The super global announcement was the PS2 getting a drop in price tag in North America and Europe, with the exception of the UK for some reason.
Sony believe the $99 PS2 console ”could steal” business away from Nintendo Wii, while the PS3 remains where it is as ”a premium product” should; it’s a ”responsible business” after all.
The reason behind a drop for PS2 is ”really to extend the overall viability and versatility of the platform. We’re looking at 70-80 titles launching on PS2 this coming year, and about the same number next year in 2010,” Sony’s John Koller tells GameDaily.
”PS2 shows very little signs of slowing down, and we wanted to continue to really target that lower income consumer, as well as that lapsed gamer or young family consumer that is still purchasing PS2 and wants some of that evergreen entertainment,” he added.
Koller says, ”we do think the $99 price point could steal some share” from Wii.
”From a technological standpoint, the Wii is much closer to the PS2 than it is to the next-gen consoles. It’s obviously not an HD box and the software development is on a par with where PS2 development is, so that’s a much more realistic and similar demographic.”
When asked about the lack of a PS3 price drop in the cards, the Sony exec replies: ”I think a lot of people just say, “drop price, drop price” … but we need to run this as a responsible business.”
”…there certainly is a profitability mandate, but we also do believe in the overall value of the box and the perceived value that’s inherent in the PS3 as a premium product is important.”
Sony’s argument right now is it would cost them too much to drop the price point for their next-gen console, and argues that what you get with a PlayStation 3 is well worth the tag.
Do you agree, videogamer?
PS3: The right bang for your buck?
