Category: Playstation 3

Sony Launching a 80GB PS3 for $599

Not only is the 60GB version of the Playstation 3 getting a $100 price drop but also in August Sony will begin selling an 80GB version of the Playstation 3 for $599.

The 80GB Playstation 3 has been available in Korea for a little while now but will be hitting the streets next month. Not only are you getting an extra 20GB for $100 but Sony is also throwing in a copy of Motorstorm along with it.

This is making the Playstation 3 look a little bit more price competitive with the Xbox 360. Competition is great and hopefully this will push all the console makers to lower prices (even $250 for the Nintendo Wii is a bit too expensive).

Engadget’s Story

Playstation 3 Taking $100 Price Cut -Updatex2

According GameDaily BIZ the Playstation 3’s price will be dropped $100 on July 12th. Sony has not confirmed this but they have gotten many reports from retailers that the price will be dropping.

The price drop could be caused by the recent drop in prices of the Blue-laser pick-up heads that are being used in the Playstation 3, read about that here.

This puts the Playstation 3 only $20 more expensive then the XBox 360 Elite. The Playstation 3 has always seemed really expensive but with this $100 price drop it won’t seem so expensive compared to the XBox 360. Let’s face it if you are going to buy an XBox 360 you should buy the Elite because of the larger hard drive, but after you purchase the HD-DVD player add-on, you are now $180 up on the Playstation 3. This means that for the $180 you can get a game or two and an extra controller.

Sounds like Sony is trying catch up with the XBox 360 a bit and dropping the price is the first thing to do, now all you have to do is get a few more good games for the console.

GameDaily BIZ: Report: PS3 $499 on July 12

Playstaion 3

Update: Sony may not have plans to drop the price of the Playstation 3 – Reuters

Update: It has been confirmed

PS3 Production Costs Could be $100 Cheaper

According to DigiTimes The Blue-laser pick-up heads that are being used in the Playstation 3 are going to increase in supply and decrease in price. Possibly lower the cost of them about $100.

This could help Sony bring down the price of the Playstation 3 and may also explain how Pioneer is planning on making a $299 Blu-Ray player by June.

I think that for Sony to live in this console war they need to lower the price of the Playstation 3 and get some exclusive games. That is all they need to do and they will be a bigger part of the console war. I want to see them have success because if they don’t then there will be no direct competition for high-def gaming with the XBox 360 which means that Microsoft will be able to do anything they want, if they want to not fix bugs in software they can do that because the Xbox would be the only way to get high-def gaming into your home theater. We need competition and unless Nintendo decides to turn the Wii high-def or another company comes along, Playstation is the only competition.

20GB PS3 to be Discontinued

The 60GB Playstation 3 has outsold the 20GB version 10:1. So Sony has decided to drop it from the Playstation 3 line. Now I don’t quite know what they are going to be doing whether it is adding a 80GB version and dropping the price of the 60GB version or if they were smart they would drop the price of the 60GB version to $499 and focus on lowering manufacturing cost of that version. I think this is a step in the right direction, less choice makes the customer less confused. Of course if the price stays at $599 then its not the right thing to do, you have to drop the price to compete with the Xbox 360.

I don’t want to get all the PS3 and Xbox 360 fanboys upset so I’ll just stop there and tell you that I love Xbox 360 and PS3 equally.

anyway check out GameIndustry.biz‘s article on the matter.

80GB Playstation 3

Over at Kotaku they got a tip about a FCC filing by Sony that mentions a 80GB Playstation 3. This could be a new addition to the lineup or it could be replacing the top end and the 60GB version could be droped to the 20GB’s price point. (Sony Working on PS3 “Elite” Model – Kotaku)

Sony did talk with them later and say this:

“As mentioned when we made the product announcement for PS3, the system will have different configurations (thus, 60GB HDD with memory card slots and Wi-Fi and 20GB HDD without memory card slots or Wi-Fi both exists). Application to the FCC has been made with various possibilities in mind, however, it does not lead to a new product announcement at this time.”

Sounds pretty interesting especially since they didn’t deny that they will be making an 80GB version however they might have just left the option open for them. (Sony Responds to PS3 Elite Rumor – Kotaku)

I think it would be really cool if Sony came out with an 80GB version, it would make more room for that cool PS3 Home feature that will be coming out later this year.

Here is a picture of the FCC filing:

Free 46″ HDTV with PS3 Purchase

Ever wanted to get a free 46″ tv with the purchase of a Playstation 3. Well if you were at the Playstation 3 launch in London then you might have gotten one. The first 100 people to purchase their Playstation 3’s were given a free TV along with a cab ride home.

This was a big suprise to everyone in line and it looks like they gave them a cab ride home because many of them didn’t have a way to transport their brand new tv home.

This is definitely a good way for Sony to start out with a bang in Europe.

Playstation Home coming in October

gamesindustry.biz is saying that Playstation Home will be launching in October. They found a pdf document on Sony’s developer site. The document lists these dates for the roll out:

Closed Beta (appx. 15,000 users): April – August
Open Beta (appx. 50,000 users): August – October
Service Live (50,000+): October

This is pretty cool because people will be able to sign up for the beta as we already know but know we have a time frame and know a bit more about how its going to be rolled out.

check out Game Industries article
and check out the pdf document

Weekly Picks

This week with announcements like Playstation 3 Home, I’ve been looking at the PS3 with a much better feeling about it. The thing is expensive and it doesn’t have too many games that are really worth buying but the next 6 months or so look pretty promising for this console. I really have liked many of the things that they have done with it and plan to do in the future. I do like the Xbox 360 but there is one problem with the device for me, I don’t like the controller, I’ve owned the PSOne the PS2 and hope to purchase the PS3 and like the controller and absolutly love the fact that it hasn’t really changed over the course of the 3 consoles except for the addition of the analog sticks.

Playstation 3

MotorStorm

Along with Ice Age: The Meltdown and Component cables for the PS3, I decided not to put too many pictures in this post.

Lets face it the PS3 is starting to look good again and I think its starting to become a competitor in the console wars.

Playstation 3 Home Trailer Looks Amazing

This does look amazing but I am afraid that this could just be a second life clone with better graphics.
it is no doubt a closed system not like Second Life because there will be no user generated items from what I know so far, but it does sound promising and I have to say even though right now the PS3 doesn’t have much I think in about 3 months or so it might be a reasonable contender against the XBox 360.


Playstation 3 Home Beta sign up page, Sony has a site up where you will be able to sign up for the Home closed beta. The sign up isn’t available yet but the page is so keep your cursor over that refresh button and click away.

[via Gizmodo]