"Affordable" 20gig PS3 discontinued. "Buy or Die" says Sony

Razer · 4934 5157 5662 5658 Gender: Joined: 07 Oct 2002

Here's the link to the Gamespot story
http://www.gamespot.com/news/6168876.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=newstop&tag=newstop;title;1
I'm not even going to bother reprinting it here. Plainly put IMO, Sony never had any intentions of supporting this version in the US unless it became a runaway success. Unlike The XB360, which is a game console, the PS3 is not viable as a multi-SKU item. It's a cheap BluRay player that also plays games. It's designed to be a set top box, not a game console. The faults of the 20G HD (mainly size, which in itself is ridiculous) have now made themselves apparant and even tho SOny's claim is that they only want to support the "more popular 60G model", I feel that's more Sony BS. One of the Walmart's near me has 3 PS3's in the display case and another 7 in the store room. I know the dept manager for electronics so I know this is true. And guess what? They're all 60G models. Matter of fact every Walmart I've been in here in El Paso has PS3's for sale so I don't know how "popular" that model is. The 20G version was made to be a no-frills machine that they could put out "in good faith" to show they cared but I believe they truly had no intention on supporting it over the long haul.

Nintendo and Micro$oft have done it right. Sony, I hope you choke on the bile that you spew to us.

Ming · DOOM! Gender: Joined: 13 Jan 2003

I agree with you, and I saw this coming. The release of an inferior product next to a far superior one was nothing but a facade and a money-making scheme. This whole situation has caused me (and I'm sure many others) to lose a lot of respect for Sony.

Shino

Wow. What's with the Sony bashing there Raze?

Ming · DOOM! Gender: Joined: 13 Jan 2003

Shino · Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2007 2:22 pm Post subject:

Understandable. But keep in mind how much it costs them to make it. It's a system that costs Sony well over $800 to make, and they sell it for $600.

I do think that the main issue that many people have is the forcing of Blu-Ray into the market by including it in the PS3.

Well, that could really go either way. I think it was both a smart and a dumb move. It the system came out this year, I think it would have been a much smarter move b/c they could have released it for cheaper.

I still expect the system to drop $100 this year. With all the brand new tech in it, it has to be dropping in cost quickly.

The 360 went from MS losing 130 bucks or so, to them making $75 off each system in just a year.

BK · undefined Gender: Joined: 20 Oct 2006

Everyone has 60 gigs because that's all Sony has shipped out in the last 3 months. From the beginning they shipped mostly 60 gigs because that's what they wanted people to buy. The 20 gig has been discontinued in Best Buy's system for over a month with the note that the sku was being modified or something.

Sure M$ is bleeding their customers with all their propriatary crap, but what happens if the rechargable battery built into the Sony controller loses it's ability to keep a charge (something rechargables are prone to), then you have to drop another $50 on a whole new controller. With my 360 controller I'm out another $12 or so.

Sure you could upgrade the 20 gig harddrive easily, but you still had to drop another $100 to have it network wirelessly like it's big brother could; which killed the price difference quickly.

There are pro's and con's to both systems and both companies, but over all Sony has left the worst taste in my mouth.

Razer · 4934 5157 5662 5658 Gender: Joined: 07 Oct 2002

Well I guess I will apologize a bit, I hadn't had my morning Dew.

HOWandsoEVER I wasn't really bahsing as much as ranting (if there's a difference). My main point was, and still is, that I personally believe the 20G model was effectively a PR campaign. It was a "look, we care about all of our fans" thing. The diffs between the two probably aren't even $100 worth anyway so why bother to release the smaller one in the first place? Seriously, what was the point other than being $100 less. Then to say that the 60G model outsells the 20G model 10-1 is more PR spin. They made the 60G model on a nearly 3:1 ratio. If I make 75 60G models and 25 20G models and they all sell out, I can say "hey, people want the 60G model because it out sold by a 3-to-1 margin." They made it that way. Also, my point about the PS3's on store shelves was similar. XB360's are on store shelves because they are stocked. PS3's are on store shelves because no one wants to pay $600 for it. Period.

Now again my overall view on the PS3 is that it's simply not worth the price as a game console. As a BluRay player, it may be good. As a piece of home electronics, it may be good. But as a game system, it's not worth $600. In time it may be (probably will be) but for today April 12th...no. Looking at the 20G model I asked myself "What is worth $200 more in gaming enjoyment over the PS2?" The answer...nothing. There is nothing except for graphics power that you can't make up for yourself on the PS2 for under $200. 20G HD? That runs about $20. Add in the HD Extreme for formatting and other features that even Sony doesn't offer for another $50 or so. Wireless controller? Another $20. There you go, I have a PS3. I know the system gives me access to a lot more features but none of them impact my gaming in any significant way. Would Resistance still be fun without the multi-card reader ports? VF5 without the SIXAXIS? Oblivion without the BluRay player? I believe they all would be because none of that effects the actual game. The only argument I could entertain would be "need" for BluRay and the larger storage space but even that's bogus. I don't believe any of the EA games are larger than 7 gigs and that fits a dual layer DVD. If Resistance would have been programmed more efficiently I'm sure it could have fit into that space also. When BluRay, or any kind of data medium, is used for what it's intended for then I'm happy.

Well this is getting a bit long and could possibly become a thread all by itself so I'll quit. Again, I just meant to address how I felt solely about the 20G model but you know how some people tend to get carried away. Embarassed

Shino · Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2007 8:05 pm Post subject:

RivaOni · Full English! Age: 41 Gender: Joined: 24 Sep 2002

In blanket test of Europe, it was found that a really high percentage of people said they wouldnt even bother getting the 20gig model, so Sony didnt release it over here. Why produce a cheaper option if no one wants it? Not alot of stores stock Core 360's, and those who do are doing REALLY cheap bundles, and I mean stupidly priced, just to clear that stock.

Terin · Huzzah! Gender: Joined: 27 Oct 2003