Sony would like to make one thing perfectly clear: It is not cutting the price of the PlayStation 3, no matter how many people whine about it. So shut up already.
Earlier, I told you how CEO Sir Howard Stringer said Robert Kotick's seeming-threats that Activision could stop developing for PS3 if the price isn't lowered are "a lot of noise," and now Jack Tretton, President of Sony Computer Entertainment America, has reiterated his point.
In an interview with Fast Company, Tretton said:
"People are always wanting you to lower your price on hardware. We could've come out with a PlayStation 2.5 for $299 or less, and in the first two or three years it would sell extremely well. But there would be a point where people would be going, "I am not really seeing the incremental leap." We feel that we're sacrificing the short term to pay dividends in the long term. People are having short-term thinking--the platform is not even three years old. It was $599; it's now $399. The focus on pricing is something we appreciate, but you have to have the conviction and the confidence that you are on the right path for the long term and ultimately you'll get all the consumers you want. You won't get them all day one, but we're looking to get them over a 10-year period. It's going to take different things to get different consumers."
If you're following along at home, here are just some of the people who have called for or predicted a price cut in the last few months: Janco Partners analyst Mike Hickey, Microsoft's Aaron Greenberg, Wedbush Morgan Securities video game analyst Michael Pachter, some guy I met on a train, Electronic Arts CFO Eric Brown, Media Molecule co-founder Alex Evans, Activision head Robert Kottick, half of our commenters, and many others.
But just to be different, and contrary, I'm going to say this: I don't think Sony should cut the price of the PS3. It's not crazy expensive for what you get. The price has already been chopped since the thing was launched, and now, finally, it's actually worth the cost. Everyone who doesn't already have a PS3 needs to quit complaining. I know it's tough out there economically, but pick up a paper-route, sell some plasma and save up the price of a PS3. You'll like it better because you earned it, know what I mean?
Also, keep in mind, many of the people calling for a price-cut are game makers, and in a perfect world for them, consoles would be free, so everyone would have at least one and they'd sell a lot more software. I bet if Sony started saying that PS3 games should be cheaper, so Sony could sell more consoles, game publishers would disagree pretty strongly.
Comments
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ERN_DIZ
ohh MR.johnson i believe you just did something we in the gaming world we call, PWNAGE...take that game publishers,
ps: games regardless should be cheaper $60? ZOMG ive spent. more money on games than what i spent on my ps3
Zmeeds
"Everyone who doesn't already have a PS3 needs to quit complaining. I know it's tough out there economically, but pick up a paper-route, sell some plasma and save up the price of a PS3. You'll like it better because you earned it, know what I mean?"
yes i do. amen, brother
ichiro209
i've used up all my 60gb and got my value's worth on the ps3 but not always the case with a $60 video game.
x_nation
Let the chess game begin...
IcemanMX
I like this article, Mr. Johnson.
Also, thank you for mentioning me as "half of our commenters." I may whine about the price of a PS3, but it purely an exercise in stress relief. Ideally, I would love to have a PS3 and while I can technically afford it, I need to save up for more important things like food, mortgage, utilities, and a savings fund. Realistically, if I were to splurge and get a PS3, what time would I have to play the damn thing? I work an average of 12 hours a day (or at least I am at work for an average of 12 hours a day) and I work 7 days a week. The little free time I have that I don't spend eating and sleeping are used up when I use the bathroom. I have a queue of games just waiting to be played across three consoles that would keep me occupied for at least a year if I were to just quit my job and play games all day long... you know, like what you guys do now. Besides, if I were to get a PS3, I wouldn't have anything left to whine and bitch about.
-M
Erthazus
the best comment|opinion from G4 from what i have ever seen.
Great job. I agree for 100%
jalapenowonmil
No flame war yet? Are people actually becoming more civilized? Awesome!
SithGorilla
I think people concentrate too much on what the other consoles cost. PS3 is light years ahead of them. I mean Jesus, just the blu-ray player alone is worth $399. A 360 Elite (which I have) cost that much. Now let me say, I don't own a PS3 but that is because there hasn't been a game that has really made me want to get it. But God of War 3 is going to change that. I did own one in the past. For me, it's just been a lack of games that I'm interested in.
shmaron
I love Jack Tretton! He doesn't B.S.
ErrorCodeOfDeath
Stephen Johnson: "But just to be different, and contrary, I'm going to say this: I don't think Sony should cut the price of the PS3. It's not crazy expensive for what you get. The price has already been chopped since the thing was launched, and now, finally, it's actually worth the cost. Everyone who doesn't already have a PS3 needs to quit complaining. I know it's tough out there economically, but pick up a paper-route, sell some plasma and save up the price of a PS3. You'll like it better because you earned it, know what I mean?"
Are you looking to get banned from here?
T_Rexx
At least you're not bias.
But be careful; you may be cut from the payroll every other G4 member is enjoying from M$. lol
1eyedjack
Well it is priced right and I would buy a PS3 but I have already had my 360 for so long and invested in it. All the games I like are all ready on the 360 so it's very hard to justify another $400 for the option to play 1 or 2 exclusives sony has. So for me personally I will wait it out or never get one unless they have a great deal of good exclusives that I just must play.
nvserg
LMAO, I guess only time will tell......
pcNorth_mOnster
JACK TRETTON JACK TRETTON JACK TRETTON!!!!!!!!!!!! JUST T-BAGED PPL WHO WANT A PRICE CUT GO JACK TRETTON!!!!!!
pcNorth_mOnster
he is right if you cant afford a ps3 save up and buy one im 16 and did just that and now have a licenses and car so its a matter of maturty i think thats how u spell it? ya activision where looking at you if you drop the ps3 you will loose even more money so jack tretton just said suck it and suck it hard
muteownz
i don't care anymore.. i would have bought a ps3 a few months ago with a price cut i just don't care anymore. cut the price for all i care, i won't buy it. i've lost interest. and i'm guessing i'm not the only one.
ddc2494
i agree with Jack Trenton, they dont need to lower the price, if they lowered the price they would be ripping themselves off even further, you already get: Free Internet, Movie DL/Rental Service(for a real cheap price), Ability to play web-browser games/flash games, 40-160 GB to download a lot of stuff, and a built in Blu-Ray Player, ability to connect flashdrives/printers/etc. to use the. all of that is worth he price tag and if you wanna complain about the price too bad, i mean when you think about it youll end up spending $400+ buying LIVE cards, and Microsoft Points cards. Lastly you get a bunch of kick-ass exclusives. Also screw Activision the only good gig they got going for them right now is MW2 so screw them anyway, especially since they(Activision)tried to stop production of Brutal Legend.
i already know flameboys will comment on this..so come on kids i love to have a good fan-boy argument ;)
zuma
Will people that complain about Sony's sales vs 360 sales pleaze look at the hard numbers!?!? M$ sold about 24 million console in the 1st 3 years. $ony has sold 22.3 million to date and they haven't even made it to 3 years yet. May I remind you that M$ did not cut their price until at least the middle if not later of their 3rd year. And that model did not even have a hard drive. If you want a hard drive you get to pay another $100. I owned 2 360s and they both crapped out on me. One in less than a year. I am now a proud $399 PS3 owner and honestly I love it. I actually get to play a game when I want and not have to go through 5 games to see which one the console will decide to play. $ony gives you all you need to play right out of the box including wi fi and a blu ray player to boot. MS gives you a console and $200 and then says "oohh by the way HDD $80. Wi Fi $100. Blu Ray ha ha ha that is not needed." I owned a M$ console for 8 years. It won't happen again any time soon.
spleendingo
I think it's alright if people don't want a PS3. But at least be honest and say "I just don't want one". All the griping I hear about waiting for a price cut, waiting for exclusives, waiting for a direct message from god, etc to buy one are just excuses. I'm happy with my PS3 and I'm happy with the games I play on my 360. Your last statement was dead on though. I'm all for a game price cut. If I don't buy a game, it's not because I don't have the system, it's because I can't afford $60 3-4 times a month.
Yamato101
Mr. Johnson, turn in everything G4 & M$ owned in your possesion....
YOU'RE FIRED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Why? For telling your fellow Xbot slaves....(AHEM) I mean, uh.... "co-workers" & the 360 owners that follow The Feed the truth by saying the PS3 is actually worth something!!
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