Jeremy Charette
04-06-2006, 03:15 PM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3149340' target='_blank'>http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3149340</a><br /><br /></div><i>"A Gamasutra story points to a Europe 1 french radio interview with George Fornay, president of Sony Computer Entertainment France and vice president of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. The interview yielded the first public comment from a senior Sony executive on the pricing for Sony's next-generation console. Fornay said on French radio that the PS3 will cost "around 500 euro [$613], in the range of 499 to 599 euro [$612 to 734]." Sony Computer Entertainment president, Ken Kutaragi has mentioned that the system was going to be expensive, but $612 expensive? If Sony's pricepoint for the PS3 is $599 in America, will you be standing in line to buy one? Would a more palatable pricepoint of $499 have you camping out in the cold come early November for a PS3? While nothing Fornay says points to the price slipping that low, keep in mind Sony hasn't confirmed, commented or made any indication about what the North American pricepoint will be."</i><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/cash-320x240.jpg" /> <br /><br />Keep in mind that typically, pricing for consumer electronics in the US is lower than in Europe. Take for example the Xbox 360, which is approximately 399 Euro ($487 USD) across the pond, but $399 USD in North America. I think a 1:1 currency translation is more realistic. I doubt that Sony will price the PS3 above $600 in the US. To do so would be to commit suicide in the North American gaming market. I think $400 is that critical crossover point where an electronics purchase goes from want to need. Anything over that, and it's considered a long-term investment (like a television, refrigerator, or washing machine). Maybe high prices are Sony's way to counter the supply/demand problem?