Comments on: Activision CEO calls for PS3 price cut

In an interview with the London Times, Activision CEO Bobby Kotick says that Sony has to cut the price of the PS3--now.

[CageFighter1983]

Technically Ps3 isn't overpricing their unit. You might spend 399 to buy the unit but your saving in the long run. I purchased an arcade bundle 360 and spent about 199. I couldn't afford ps3 or the other xbox bundles at the time. I know that was my choice but even had I bought a better bundle I would still be paying for xbox live while my friend plays all his games for free online with ps3. I had to purchase a mic, hard drive, for awhile I had to constantly replace the double a batteries that the controller takes intil i purchased the recharging kit, and ocassionally I have to pay for my xbox live subscription. I dont have the numbers but I can promise you it add's up to more then 399. While i know everyones going to defend there system, I think that the ps3 is a cheaper investment in the long run.

[joebuck90]

first and foremost at 399 i can get an elite bundle and that is better than ps3 offers sec xbox live is better than the online on ps3 i own both systems and i like them both for certain games but online for xbox is better light years better

[chkamanagement]

Sony has been around since 1946. At 63 years old ...You should know better! I agree with most of the comments posted here on this site.The Playstation3 games are too expensive and so are the accessories. Wii is getting the upper-hand on Playstation3 because the marketing team at Sony is not reaching deep enough into the "mystery pot." We all know that the name "Sony" sells itself! Become more creative and push your product more. Conduct adequate and progressive surveys throughout the communities. Have your marketing team focus somewhat on community based events instead of cooperate events. How much money does Sony spend each year at the Consumer Electronic Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. My advice is to have members of your marketing team visit local high schools, colleges, rehab centers, small business, etc... and conduct time sensitve feedback surveys. The typical gamers are between the ages of 13-32. Explain to your customers the benefits of owning a Sony Playstation3 compared to owning a XBOX 360 or a Wii. Over the past few years there have been to many changes to the Playstation3. Example: The new Playstation3 no longer carries a designated input port for the Sony Pro memory stick ... You have to purchase an adapter kit that is sold separately. The Playstation3 over-heats after an hour or so of intense on-line gaming ...You have to purchase a cooling system that is sold separately. Last but not least! Create new games that are not all first-person shooting games. Create games like Pac-Man Ultimate, Pit-fall, Donkey Kong, Pole-Position, etc... These are games that your customers can relate too. These are games that most of your customers grew up playing when the original ATARI 5200 was is in the picture. I thank that the Playstation3 is a good system, but the price of the games and accessories need to be lowered or Sony will continue to lose money and customers.

[SteveW928]

@ chkamanagement - "The Playstation3 over-heats after an hour or so of intense on-line gaming ...You have to purchase a cooling system that is sold separately."

You have something set-up wrong then. I often play very intense games for many hours (Killzone2, Warhawk, etc.)... my PS3 has never overheated. I've even run folding@home (which pushes the computing power to the max for scientific research) for weeks at a time... and no problems. I'd recommend against the cooling fan kits. Just keep the PS3 where it isn't enclosed... vertical positioning seems best. I actually have mine in a cabinet, but I have fans in the cabinet which keep the air moving through it (a must for any reasonably powerful gaming system, stereo, computer, etc.)

"Create new games that are not all first-person shooting games."

There are lots of these kinds of games.... Gran Turismo, Paradise Burnout, Little Big Planet, all kinds of sports and driving games... and MANY MANY very unique type games, many of which are like $4 - $10 downloads from the PS Store. Also, Warhawk (possibly the best game of all time) is not a first-person shooter, though it is a war type game.

[oklah23]

In Veitnam a copy of original game worth US$50 = Dong 887,140

Recently i was trying to buy the PS3. The price was ok for me eventhou the WII and XBOX were cheaper.
I intent to buy the PS3 for longer use like 5-10 yrs without replacing it with a newer console.


THE PROBLEM IS, when i saw the original Game For PS3 worth about $60 - $100 (eg. Grand Turismo5 Sell at RM360 each, US1=RM3.5) What the heckk!!! That way too expensive for someone with family.

So, i bought the PS2 since the pirated game was avaiable anywhere, download from internet, game shop for only $3.


Well of course, i will buy the original Game CD if the price was cheaper.

I think the game developer should reduce the price of game depending on location. For example how do u sell US$60 per game in the poor country?

[tjirish44]

The PS3 pricing issue is simple to me. Sony made a big mistake installing that Blu-Ray player rather than having it available as an Add-On. Sony did this to try and win the high Def DVD war which it won. However I believe Blu-Ray adds almost $200 to cost of PS3. Blu-Ray should have been an add-on. A bigger issue is the matter of new game console's. I read the next generation consoles while away's off... They could be out as early as 2012. So what if PS 3 is still struggling and Nintendo, XBox or even I heard Apple was considering a console... What if a new console is created that is better than the PS3? Why is anyone arguing about Sony cutting price? I could care less if Sony loses money on a PS3 by cutting the coost. I don't have a PS3. I'd like to have one so I hope Sony cuts the thing $200.

[SteveW928]

Blu-ray doesn't add $200 to the cost. You can buy a replacement drive for like $70... my guess is that it costs Sony like $30-40 for the drive.

On your second point... these other makers could come out with another generation before the PS4, but they will have the same problem Sony does... or it still won't be as powerful as the PS3. Sony made the PS3 what it is SO THAT it will be competitive for several years in terms of gaming power. When you bought a PS3 (up until recently) Sony was subsidizing your purchase a good deal... you were actually getting way more machine than what you paid for.

[tjirish44]

PUT IT ANOTHER WAY... I don't own a PS3. If Sony cut's PS3 by $100 I will buy one. I figure after you buy PS3 you have buy extra controller etc.. So that $100 will go into system costing $400. AS it is $500 too much. Buy PS3 get some other component's. Keep overall price near $400. Plus i know I am getting a good deal on price.

[mrfritz]

Activision and the rest should cut their damn prices, $40 bucks for a game, what are they smoking!

[roachbrain]

It's funny how they keep releasing the same game with different songs and charge $60 for it. Also they plan to release and expansion to Modern Warfare 2 shortly after release; something that could have just been part of the game allready. No , they rather charge you extra money for an incomplete game. Activision needs to look at it's self before calling for price cuts.

[LeggoDiego]

It's like the gas company yelling at the auto industry to lower prices. How about Activision lower the price of the games?

[Kaden101]

A price cut will help sell more units, but will it help Sony stay in business? I also believe that the PS3 will sell a lot more games & units when a couple of well known IP's we've been waiting aaaages for turn up, namely GT5 (full) & God of War III, when these 2 turn up the PS3 & games will sell.

Sony has been either brave or stupid releasing lots of new IP's like Motorstorm, Uncharted, LBP, Killzone 2 (hardly anyone heard of the first one, might as well have been new), Heavenly Sword, Infamous etc. Whilst all good games (notice I didn't mention Lair & Haze) people don't know these titles, & because there's no product assocation they haven't been selling quickly. GT5 & God of War III (& possibly The Last Guardian..maybe) are extremely well known IP's & people will assocate them with the fun they had playing GT4 & GOWII, this will push sales, & once people have the the console & the known games, they will then try other IP's like the ones mentioned above. A perfect example of this mentality is Halo, it maybe be getting old hat, but it still sells like crazy.

I stand by the fact that I think the PS3 is worth the current money, but a price cut is never going to hurt sales. What will hurt sales is 50 websites a day harping on about a PS3 price cut putting off potential customers because they are always waiting for something that will only happen when Sony see fit to make it happen. This price cut story is getting really out of hand now.

[SteveW928]

I agree with most of what you said.... a LOT of it has to do more with marketing and perception than actual quality or titles that really are good. But, with the economy slowing down.. it might actually help Sony. Much what has been driving these 'well known titles' is kids with lots of extra cash to blow. They see the ads, and buy these games... play them for a week... buy another one. They probably won't be able to afford to do this now, so they will have to pick more carefully.