Activision CEO Bobby Kotick recently issued a bold threat; if Sony didn't drop the price of the PlayStation 3, the mega-publisher might have to stop supporting the machine. Analysts called it nothing but hot air and Sony CEO Howard Stringer said Kotick "just likes to make a lot of noise."
But since then, other developers and publishers have popped up, proclaiming their support for the PS3 in the face of Activision's statement. The most recent is EA, although they were smart enough not to make any comment regarding the Sony/Activision snafu. In speaking to VideoGamer , EA UK head man Keith Ramsdale first said Activision is "free to make whatever comment they choose to make," but at the same time, he certainly doesn't agree with Kotick's words. Said Ramsdale:
"As it stands, the installed base of 360, PS3 and Wii, just talk about the home consoles, is a significant base. We’re interested in the projection parts, as to where we put our development, and as it stands today they’re all three very viable platforms."
We figured this was just common sense, so we didn't bother to freak out on Activision. Besides, most people are now of the opinion that Activision – with its bevy of high-priced products headed our way this year – just wants a PS3 price cut so their stuff doesn't seem so costly. As for EA's take on a PS3 price drop, Ramsdale had this to say:
"It’s interesting for a publisher and a developer for the installed base of any format to grow as quickly as it can, but it’s got to be a sustained business. So, is it in our interest that the installed base of hardware increases? Yeah, of course it is. Sony are the ones that have to manage their own business… it has to be Sony’s decision."
Again, sounds logical to us. It is Sony's decision, and it's only a matter of time before the price cut comes down the pike. Publishers who wish to pressure Sony into providing a price drop before they're ready will clearly be wasting their time. As for the day when the PS3 finally becomes cheaper, some believe it will come with the arrival of the semi-confirmed PS3 Slim. Guess we'll have to just wait and see…
A very diplomatic response from Ramsdale. He must have a history in business. Good for him. 😉
(No, this is not sarcasm. He seems to know how to cater to the people without sounding like an ass.)
Who knows, maybe there would of been a price cut by now, but because Activision tried to strong arm Sony, they're standing pat out of defiance. "You don't negotioate with terrorists"! Sony a brilliant company. They know what's what.
I hope the PS3 slim is not real. Think about it. All of that great technology crammed into a smal case?! Wouldn't there be over heating problems?
I'm sure Sony has thought that through.
That's why they are using the smaller chip, that require less fans. You have to have faith in Sony technology. People doesn't cater to brand loyalty just for its name you know.
Lol godsman tell that to the die hard xboxers.
Last edited by Jawknee on 7/17/2009 12:35:13 PM
Xboxers choose the 360 because of the huge library of violent shooters and because its CHEAP. Cheap with a captial "C".
Overheating problems? It's not a Xbox 360! 😉
I dont want a price cut, it is priced competively, thats the way it should be.If they priced it with whats actually in the PS3, it would be around $1000,which id still pay for btw,i think $400 is a good deal imo. Its like comparing caviar to tuna,the caviar tastes better and higher quality so it gets a higher price, the tuna is lower quality so it gets the lower price. I wonder how the PS3 tastes? hold on..*goes and licks the PS3* it tastes like plastic,not bad, now the 360, hold on…*goes and licks the 360* YUK!!! Dust tastes nasty! lmfao. haha (btw the PS3 is the caviar, and the 360 is the tuna. and hey, they match colors too.
I happen to like tuna and cavier but would not compare the two.
If Sony can still make a profit if they lower the price then I think they should. If they will lose money then they shouldn't.
interesting analogy. I too do not want a price cut. I think the PS3 is priced quite reasonably. It's a pity its been held back by DVD-esc third-party titles. I'd like to see more games that actually uses the blu-ray.
@jmo_INDY_Repub1
Well, I have champagne taste, but usually only have beer money,
so I guess I gotta go for the "star-kist & some welfare cheese,
(BTW, that's the EDIBLE tuna, not that fishy MS brand)
LOL!!!
Same comment as last time? You're a funny guy.
Hey im not digging on tuna, ilike it, but it must be fresh tuna, not that canned stuff. I prefer wine, but thats just me. Like i said Caviar is higher quality so it gets higher price, thats all i was pointing out. It wasnt actually a i like this better then this situation. Just comparing price with quality.
EA was never a favorite dev of mine but I'm starting to like them more and more. Need another Dead Space for PS3.
Dead Space ftw! I was semi-interested in Extraction, but now it's time for DS2! …also Mirror's Edge 2.
Extraction looks interesting but I'm not a fan of the rail shooters. Should have just made it a FPS.
Extraction is a rail shooter? I had no idea! Watch for another hard core gaming flop on the Wii.
Agreed, DS2 would be nice. Just beat DS yesterday (yeah I know, not enough hours in the day) and I've never had so much scary fun since the original Silent Hill.
Last edited by sunspider13 on 7/18/2009 12:44:18 AM
*Applaud* Good Job, EA! At least, you understand 2 simple things, 1) what console makers do should be up to them and 2) even though this is the gaming industy, business is still business. No one goes out and puts their financial wellbeing on the chopping block.
I think since becoming the biggest publisher after the purchase of Blizzard, I think activision has fancied itself the King of the industry or something. How about this Kotick, if you want the PS3 to drop its price, would you be willing to be charge a sub-$100 price tag for the next Guitar Hero WITH A FULL SET OF INSTRUMENTS and lost money on every game you sold? If no, I dare you to stop supporting the PS Family. (Btw, I haven't bought an activision game in years anyways.)
Look at Activision's Modern Warfare bundle, guitar hero/ DJ hero bundle prices. I have never seen any price tags so insane in previous generations. Why are they complaining about PS3 pricetags?
Because they have a Sales & Marketing team. They're designed to bitch and moan. Now go get yourself an MBA so you can understand this. Ha ha.
MBAs are the most useless humans on earth. 😉
My brother has an MBA and I will not comment any further… but I will let out a definite L O L. (Holds the devil horns up in approval. My hands, dude. My hands! Sick people you are.)
EA realizes the immense sales potential of the PS3 once the price becomes more favorable in this economy.
It's as simple as that.
What I really love about this is that if and when SONY drops the PS3 pricetag, it would seem that they did it more on their own terms rather than pressure from Activision because of Ramsdale words. Good logical call.
I have more faith in EA because they don't port down from Xbox games.
nah, valve just makes sh!t ports from 360 to ps3 through EA, that's all
Because Valve is too lazy to learn to properly do PS3 coding, and too arrogant to admit they're lazy!
Wolfenstein and Modern Warfare 2. Those are the only games I'm currently looking forward to from Activision. I don't care about GH or DJ Hero. I don't care about Tony Hawk since they dropped the Pro Skater titles. I don't care about crappy movie-based games. Activision, do you care about losing a huge chunk of income from the massive PS3 crowd out there? If you don't, I won't miss you. I wouldn't have dreamed of saying this a year ago, but kudos to EA.
Last edited by 556pineapple on 7/17/2009 2:03:36 PM
While the fanboy and fake journalist hate rages on I now see a trend (in sharp opposition to Kotex's remarks) of intelligent industry professionals sticking up for the PS3. This, I believe, is indicative of the future of where this generation is headed insofar as the recognition of the superiority (in terms of ability to deliver the best software content) of the PS3 in coming months and years.
Onward Sony soldiers, the games will only get better.
Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 7/17/2009 2:27:26 PM
Liking the vibe here^
It's like one of Elpresador's Trey Brootherhood vids 🙂
Edit: *Broootherhood
Last edited by RadioHeader on 7/17/2009 4:13:11 PM
August 11, 2009
At a small press conference Sony unveils the PS3 slim. The "fat" ps3 will be reduced to $299 for the 120gb model. The slim will come with a 120gb hdd as well, priced at $399. Both units will come bundled with a copy of inFamous, though the Slim will also have a PSN voucher for Gripshift.
They then announce that the Slim will be available September 8th and will ship with firmware 3.0. Firmware 3.0 includes the usual bugfixes, compatibility updates, and ps2 backward compatibility. The 3.0 update will be available for download for all PS3 units on August 18.
I can dream, right?
if you're right, what are next week's lottery numbers???
4-8-15-16-23-42
Can 3.0 have a new, not mobile phone based web browser too?
Hey Sony! You know the Firefox/Gecko code is open source, right?
lol say you're a butcher, and you have the choice of getting fatty pork for your bacon for one price, and pork with little to no fat for a bit higher of a price… would you demand that the product of higher quality be the same price as the lesser quality product??? on what grounds do you have that authority??? it's not your company, they just supply you with product.. you get what you pay for… and the expensive is usually better…
Except for RadioShack,just saying. lol, Damn those vulchers,$28 for a 5' USB cord, seriously? There probably in cahoots with M$. GALGE GALGE.lol
You walk in, "Yes, id like a USB cord." Radioshack employee, "Are you a PlayStation owner or an X-Box owner?" Me, "PlayStation owner", Employee, "Ok, that will be $62." Me, " Damn!" lol
Radio Shat has to charge a million dollars because no one shops there since cables can be had for a couple bucks online.
@World
Agreed, the don't even have anything useful in their stores anymore.
Last edited by vicious54 on 7/17/2009 4:29:01 PM
im not even going to go into the USB Flash drive fiasco. URRRRRRG!!!
Last edited by JMO_INDY on 7/17/2009 5:23:18 PM
@Canuck Pride,
Yup what you just said!
(and especially on "triple coupon" Thursdays) LOL
I agree with some of the Radio Shack slams, but I still NEED them about once a year for something I can't get anywhere else locally.
Kotick is looking more and more foolish next to his contemporaries as the weeks go by.
They're both crap companies
Thankfully I haven't bought an EA game in years, 5+ years
Kotick's heads so big, he probably thinks he's the f*cking leader of the Alamo too….
(and we all know what happened there)!
i find it extremly ironic that activision can be such Hippocrates.
they complain about the high price of the ps3 but than expect 300 AUD for the GHWT full bundel.
180 for guitar and game.
if you want the drum set you have to buy the full 300 dollar set you cant buy the drumbs by themselves.
not to mention the over priced editions of MW2.
they know its going to sell bucket loads so they add 5 bucks to the RRP.
i agree with them the ps3 does need a price drop, but there not one to talk.
I can't believe I'm saying this but EA have their head screwed on right this gen.