E3 ‘07: Sony Sending 60GB PS3 Out to Die?
- Scribbled on July 13th, 2007 by Devin Grimes
- Filed in E3, Rumor Mill, Sony PlayStation 3
In a recent interview regarding the PS3 price cut, SCEE president David Reeves let out some shocking news, stating that the USD $100 price cut on the 60GB model of the PS3 isn’t solely to benefit the consumer and spike sales of the console. It turns out Sony’s own agenda is on the line, with an effort to phase out all 60GB models by the end of July.
Speaking to GamesIndustry.Biz, Reeves explained:
All they’re doing is taking their stock in trade that they’ve got at the moment of the 60GB model, marking the price down and it will all be gone by the end of July.
So once the 60GB is gone, that will be the end of the 60GB then?
In America, yes.
The phasing out seems to be largely attributed to the newer production line models of the PlayStation 3 lacking one of the key innards of the PS2’s hardware, the Emotion Engine. The first run of PS3 models offered up 100% backwards compatibility (according to him), but the software-based emulation of the new models only gets us up to 88% compatibility.
Somehow, SCEA thought an extra 20 Gigs of hard-drive space would make up for it:
They felt that by going down for 100 to 88, for example, that they’d have to add something in - and that’s what they did.
July 13th, 2007 at 9:10 am
This is actually pretty bad. I watched a video on this via Digg where Kaz Hirai was interviewed and not only did he confirm the intent to sell off the remaining stock of the 60GB, but he stated that once it is all gone the PS3 will return to a one SKU business model: The 80GB at $599.
I really can’t comprehend what these guys are thinking. The majority of fans and journalists thought they had the best E3 showing. They’re currently riding a moderate wave of good press. And now, we find out that the price drop is really just a clearance sale.
Obviously, the 80GB SKU with Motorstorm is still a better value than the previous offering of just the 60GB at $599. But I hate bundled consoles. I’d rather just buy the game separately if I wanted it. More importantly, the PR effect of this is going to set them back to where they were before the change (if not worse).
July 13th, 2007 at 9:15 am
Here’s the link to the Kaz Hirai video. The interviewer and website is not in English, but Kaz’s responses are. He discusses the 60GB phase out in the last 3rd of the video.
http://digg.com/playstation_3/CONFIRMED_PS3_60GB_phased_out_in_U_S_Kaz_Hirai_interview_VIDEO
July 13th, 2007 at 10:14 am
A very slimy business practice if you ask me. At first look it’s “Whoa, look at us, we’re lowering our price” but then it’s followed up with “Sorry, none in stock”.
MS doesn’t seem so vile, to me now.
July 13th, 2007 at 10:36 am
Wow, can you get an more shady? Ridiculous.
Nice price drop you filthy liars, lol!
Seriously, if I was a Sony fan I think I would feel a little sodomized by them right now.
Good thing I hate Sony and would never pay any amount of money for something of theirs again. (well not under their current leadership and business practices, at least).
July 13th, 2007 at 12:09 pm
It’s called “clearance sale”.
July 13th, 2007 at 7:22 pm
Yeah, but without the discount prices…
July 15th, 2007 at 10:10 am
Joystiq just used my “clearance sale” quote:
http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/14/ps3-60gb-is-not-a-price-drop-its-a-clearance-sale/
July 15th, 2007 at 10:23 am
jonahfalcon,
Your “clearance sale” quote? You might want to re-read my comment above. Specifically this part:
“And now, we find out that the price drop is really just a clearance sale.”
Regardless, the term “clearance sale” is about as generic, logical, and uncreative as one can be about this situation. It’s not really a witty commentary on the price drop. It’s just a rational observation that clearly most people have had.