PSPgo: Price Cut Already A Go

It seems the price of the PSPgo was too high after all eh Sony? Yeah well we say it should've been priced better from the onset, but it's never too late to learn is the saying, and looking at our weekly poll gamers are either not into the handheld or waiting on a price cut, voila! A price cut has been issued. Now how hard was that to implement from the get go? There are reports that stores all across Europe are dropping the price of the PSPgo from the regular £224.99 to £199.99. Stores include amazon.co.uk, Play and GAME and HMV.

Come on Sony, pass the savings along to the good folks in North America and watch sales of the PSPgo skyrocket. Try us.

10/06/09 Ernice Gilbert

Nintendo fears a PS3 comeback, slashes price of Wii from $249 to $199 plus free $25 gift card

If you thought the games console war has been abating in recent months, think again. With the newly redesigned PS3, Sony has drawn the line; they're ready for battle, and in just three weeks since its release, the PS3 slim has gone on to sell over 1 million units. Nintendo on the other hand has seen a sharp decline in sales for its flagship console the Wii, with PS3 outselling it three times over in Japan, and by a very wide margin in the US & UK. So how does Nintendo respond? By slashing the price of the Wii from $249 to $199 plus upon purchase, a free gift card worth $25 is added to sweeten the deal.

And by the look of things, it's working out. Nintendo is now dominating amazon's best sellers list, sending everything else down while it shot for the top. Question is, will sales keep up this momentum and hold Nintendo ahead of the bunch, or is this just a temporary jump? Since it launched in 2006, the Wii has been a runaway success for Nintendo, leaving Sony and Microsoft to duke it out while they took the highroad. But now, it seems fortunes are turning. If Sony can keep this level of sales consistent, its feasible to see the PS3 back to the top of the fray in 2012, something Nintendo wants to avoid by all means.

Microsoft has had two price cuts in one month of its own for the Xbox 360 Elite, now retailing at the affordable price of $249 with a special mail in rebate of $50 until October 5, then it'll be back to the regular new price of $299. Confusing eh? Look at it this way, Microsoft wants to put an Xbox 360 in your hands, plus as the Redmond company stated at the start of this generation, their goal is to beat Sony. And the war continues.

09/29/09 Ernice Gilbert

Nintendo sees 50 million Americans owning Wii before this Gen is out

In what seems like a media blitz from Nintendo to promote its long rumored Wii price cut, the company's President Reggie Fils-Aime went to different news outlets talking up the revolutionary product, and how the new price point adds more value than any console available on the market. Apart from the Wii being cheaper, Reggie stated that they were not responding to recent moves made by their competitors Sony or Microsoft, but rather its growth mission.

But what's interesting is the numbers Nintendo's expecting the Wii to reach in the U.S. In short, it's nothing less than outstanding, that is, if they can pull it off. Mr. Fils-Aime said, "Since the launch of Wii our goal has been to expand the gaming population and get more consumers into the industry that we love. While we have sold more Wiis (over 21 million in th US and more than 50 million worldwide) than any other console after 34 months, and over 100 million DS systems, we think there is still significant opportunity to get more consumers into gaming. Just here in the US we think that opportunity is minimally 50 million consumers in U.S., by continuing to offer more and more value."

So there you have it, Nintendo's president sees you owning a Wii sometime in the future; whether you like it or not, it'll happen. Start saving.

09/25/09 Ernice Gilbert

Yoichi Wada says there'll be a new Wii in 2011, and "motion" impact for PS3 & Xbox will be small

As I've said before, next year will be the "year of motion" for both Sony and Microsoft as said companies release their Nintendo-inspired motion thingies. With the Wii being a runaway success, the PS3 and Xbox 360 want to show off some magic of their own. But if Suare-Enix's President Yoichi Wada is to be believed, Neither Sony, nor Microsoft will see much magic at all. In fact he sees a "small" impact on the industry when the peripherals are released. Yoichi also believes there'll be a new Wii come 2011.

He says, expect the new Wii to feature functionality more like Microsoft's Xbox or Sony's PS3, and possibly a different controller. Wada also believes that the recession would not have a lasting impact on the gaming industry, and attributed the weak US numbers to a slow down in sales from Nintendo games.

Rumors have been running rampant about an impending price cut for the Nintendo Wii, and it was recently confirmed in a retailer conference call. It's a win-win situation for gamers this holiday season, and I say, that's the way it should be. Always.

Via ft.com

09/21/09 Ernice Gilbert

Why is it that the PS3 price cut is leaked early, but not Xbox 360's? Suspicions...

Months ago, before Sony ever gave a hint that a price cut was incoming, the rumors had already saturated the web. Bloggers and so-called competent websites alike were making so much noise about the elusive PS3 Slim and price cut that even if you were dead, you would've known about it. So obviously if you're aware of an inevitable price drop of what ever it is you want, if you have the patience, you will wait. It's that simple, no one would deny the fact. And then came this fake video that was presumably captured somewhere in the Philippines showing the PS3 Slim in action. Some anonymous gametrailers employee then says, "Sony can't keep leaks, this PS3 Slim is real."

The rumors have been deafening; and yet still, they won't stop coming. But with the recent rumor that Microsoft is set to drop the price of the Xbox 360 elite to $299 by the end of August to preempt Sony's own price cut, you wonder, did any body knew about this earlier, but because of whatever reason, failed to release the info. Seriously, is Sony this LOUSY at keeping secrets, or are there other aspects in play?

These are just my opinions, and yours may vary, go ahead share your thoughts.

08/12/09 Ernice Gilbert

Your Votes are in, PS3 Slim & price cut coming before 2010

I've said it before and I'll say it again, where there is smoke, most times there is fire, and in this case 85% of you believe there's fire. The PS3 Slim/price cut will come your votes indicate, and that's before the year is out. So what does it mean to you? Will you go out and buy a Slim, even if you already own the original? Or are you just happy that Sony has finally seen the light and decided to cut the price of its flagship console? Whatever the reasons, the PS3 Slim and price cut are upon us. Some reports indicate that it will be announced at GamesCom 09 in Cologne, others say it won't be out until the Tokyo Game Show in Japan, but one thing everyone agree on is its inevitable arrival.

Microsoft's Xbox 360 has a lead of about 6 million units on the PS3, and that fact has been a high talking point for Microsoft execs. The software giant has stated numerous times, there goal is to beat Sony by selling more units this generation. However, Sony has more experience in the gaming industry than its nemesis, and as we speak, Sony is prepping a massive onslaught for the coming months to win the hearts of gamers the world over. So here's our new poll, Do you think the PS3 Slim and price cut of $100 will help Sony retrieve its crown? Be sure to place your vote.

08/07/09 Ernice Gilbert

Manufacturing cost for the PS3 is down 70 percent says Sony

The rumored new SKU from Sony, companied by a price cut of about $100.00 seems more real everyday. As time goes by parts get cheaper to produce, giving companies the ability to make the products more streamline and rake in better profits. In this case Sony’s Playstation 3 is the beneficiary, with production costs down significantly.

In it’s annual report, and as found by Examiner.com, here’s the what made we news heads very excited:

"Regarding the reduction of hardware costs, efforts to shrink the Cell/B.E. progressed according to plan as the original 90nm generation gave way to 65nm and then 45nm devices. Through this, as well as through ongoing efforts to reduce the number of components used, Sony will endeavor to further improve profitability."

When pressed Oneda said the cost for making PS3 was down "about 70 percent, roughly speaking."

This must be great news for the company’s share holders who’ve been waiting patiently to see a turnaround in the near future. Let’s face it, Sony has seen its lead dwindle and eventually lost in many of its businesses. From the Sony walkman which lost its lead to the now omnipresent iPod. Then you have Samsung continually outselling the giant in the LCD Television sets department, and now, the biggest of all, the PS3. It is currently in third place behind Nintendo and Microsoft.

In my humble opinion, A price cut is needed, now.

07/31/09 Ernice Gilbert