New 500GB super-slim PlayStation 3 to arrive this month

Not sure I see the point in this release - especially as the price point is so high! Or is it cheaper than current PS3 models are in the US?

[edit] Obviously, I didn't think I need to state that "the point" is for SONY to make more profit per console.... my point was that as a consumer this makes no sense.
Just thought I needed to clarify there.

Edited 1 times. Last edit by James Prendergast on 19th September 2012 9:46am

Posted:8 months ago

All the commentary prior to the announcement was that the new model would drive down costs allowing Sony to lower the retail price but it looks as if they've seen the high entry price of the Wii U, heard loads of people refer to that, unfairly, as 6 year old tech and thought that that justifies the price of the PS3 for another year.....

Posted:8 months ago

Especially when you consider the success of the PS2, and how the vast majority of their 150 million sales came after the price dropped past a certain point. You'd think they'd be wanting to repeat that, and steal a bit of momentum heading into the next generation.

Posted:8 months ago

Looks like the financial position that Sony is in has drastically affected their ability to reduce prices.

No Vita price cut and no lower prices on new PS3 models.

Posted:8 months ago

I have been holding out in the hope of getting a new PS3 for 199 sterling.
The 12gb model is too small for my needs so I may look and see what deals I can get on a older style model at the various retailers.

Posted:8 months ago

I guess this is the PS3 equivalent of the PSP Go. I can't imagine this will entice anyone to buy. The average person probably won't even notice the change. I don't see what Sony stands to gain with this, other than the fact this super slim model is probably cheaper for them to produce, thus raising the profit on what units the company does manage to move.

Posted:8 months ago

Is the 12GB unit not cheaper? I don't think that unit is aimed at the hardcore audience anyway, though its certainly disappointing there isn't a broader price cut (clearly showing how much Sony Corp. is hurting in general). Also, the lack of a U.S. release is puzzling for the cheaper unit.

Posted:8 months ago

Here in the UK, it looks like at retail the 12Gb version is coming in £15-20 cheaper than the current 160Gb model, and the 500Gb version is about the same price as the current 320Gb one.

Posted:8 months ago

I guess they're hoping that by increasing the HD size, it would entice more people to buy it. I've never had any problems with hard drive space with my 160 GB slim PS3, so how many people are going to use 500GB?

Posted:8 months ago

I think I could fall into the "late adopters" category. I haven't bought a console but I want to get one soon-ish. This new PS3 got me interested but then I saw the pricetag and then I thought "that's too high for a base model, I can get an Xbox with Kinect for that money."

Posted:8 months ago

@ Sergio or a next-gen Wii U for that money, depending on your region.

Also that 12GB is useless. Many PS3 games have mandatory 4GB-8GB installs, including almost all of the most popular ones. Enjoy using your PS3 to play all of 4 games before your system memory is full.

Posted:8 months ago

Dear Sony, I am a classic late adopter in that I do not buy consoles that are over £150, end of story. If it's possible to build a working PC for under £25 I'm sure you can manage this. Yours, Sam.

Edited 1 times. Last edit by Sam Brown on 20th September 2012 9:53am

Posted:8 months ago

Dear Sam,

We're a bit strapped for cash at the moment. If you could foot the £760 transport fee bill we'll gladly sell you a PS3-Double Slim for £150.

Best regards,
SONY.

PS. If you find any spare change down the back of the sofa or if you could arrange a whip-around down your local public house we'd greatly appreciate the added funds!

Posted:8 months ago

This is for all the people that saw their PS3 fry because of the shitty cooling system. You've got the games, the arcade sticks the steering wheel, guitar hero etc. So you need to get a new one. And there you have it, the PS3! Even slimmer than before and still fucking expensive for something that breaks after twelve hours of consecutive gaming.

Posted:8 months ago

@Farhang,

I'm with you. My BC 80 gig died after an extended session of Dark Souls and the heat that was emanating out of that thing could have fried an egg.

I am not sure how or why Sony is so arrogant to believe that they can get away with this. The PS3 is by far my favorite console, but despite that, i recognize that they are so anti-consumer it's like they want to fail. Take this new slim for instance. Here you have a new plastic piece of crap with every ounce of quality unceremoniously ripped out that is obviously far cheaper for them to build and what do they do? Raise the price, as if they're doing you a favor by selling a lower quality kit that costs them less to make, package and ship for more money.

That, combined with their nasty habit of not only lowering build quality with each iteration, but also ripping out vital features as they go, leaves me dumbfounded and pondering about who is in charge over there and how have they been left in charge for so long. It'll be interesting to see if Sony survives the next few years. If they were to crash and burn you'd see no tears from me.

Posted:8 months ago

It's the Sony-style backward hardware selling trick:
In Germany the PS3 60GB Version arrived in march 07 with an absurdly price tag. A lot of people didn't buy it because of that.
So Sony releases a 40GB and 80GB version the same year and cut out the PS2 compatibility (hope this word exists), the card reader, and some USB ports. By telling the people that wanted to buy the cheaper 40GB version wich features where cut off, every single one wanted to have the original 60GB version. Same thing with the PSP Go and PSP Street. They always manage to bring new products that nobody wants just to make sure the demand for the previous ones will rise again.

They are acting like defiant little brats. "They won't buy our good version of a console? - No prob, just cut the coolest features and they will know what they're missing.. he he".
Let's see how the next Vita-slim will look like. As history showed, the second installment isn't thet bad sometimes (PSP etc.) but the third one is always a no brainer.

PS: Thank you Sony, for giving me the chance to sell all the old console bundles I have on stock at the moment!

Posted:8 months ago