Ben-DutkaEver since the PlayStation 3 dropped to $299, Sony has enjoyed seeing sales numbers rise on a continual basis.
Might another price drop be on the horizon? According to MCV , experts expect Sony to announce a price cut for their console at GamesCom in August. The European source claims the retail tag will fall from £199.99 to £179.99, and there's also talk about Microsoft and Nintendo jumping in with various consumer-friendly bundle opportunities for the Xbox 360 and Wii. Price cuts for all hardware would be most welcome, though, as the software market is down in the UK in a year-over-year comparison.
Codemasters boss Rod Cousens also expects consoles to drop in price before the end of the year, and analyst Nick Parker added:
"£199.99 makes sense as it keeps Sony’s options open for another drop, but they could be more aggressive."
The Wii can be found on some shelves in the UK for only £99 and the bottom line is that hardware sells better at a lower price. Might we see a cheaper PS3 – and maybe even a cheaper 360 – before 2011 is over? It could really ignite a big holiday hardware rush if done in the fall.
Although I don't think it's entirely necessary, I won't complain one bit. Especially considering my bluray laser is getting flaky and I'm afraid I may be in the market for a replacement before too long. I can, and will replace the laser if that's all it is. But I still want a 2nd PS3, one for upstairs, and one for downstairs. Then I can still play games if the wife/kids are watching movies/Netflix.
so u mean u want 2 PS3's then.
I have 3 PS3's in my home…one to go with every TV (den, office, and BR). They are better then buying just a bluray player and much easier then moving them around to where I currently am (ie – if GF is playing in the den, then I can play in the office or in the comfort of my own bed). I know its a bit much but I'm a bit of a tech freak… 🙂
I recommend multiple if you got the funds 🙂
Note: you cannot move your game saves to more then one PS3 (at least I can't get mine to work). If you have 2 consoles or more, then make sure the one you are playing on is the one you want you "keep" playing on.
Last edited by anjpikapp3 on 6/24/2011 12:09:26 PM
You can move your game saves (even the protected ones) using the PlayStation Plus PSN Cloud save feature. It lets you copy your saves to the 'cloud' and then copy them back to the PS3 you're using – even the protected ones.
Thanks Highlander! I'll have to look into that as I have been going back and forth on my games depending on where I'm playing :p
Hey who wouldn't want 2 PS3's 😀 I have 2 TV's, so why not?
Highlander, I was thinking initially I would use the backup/restore feature so I wouldn't have to re-download everything. My understanding is that will copy my protected saves as well. It should, wouldn't be much of a backup if it didn't.
Cloud saves would make it handy for playing the same game on both consoles though.
Last edited by gumbi on 6/24/2011 3:48:20 PM
A price drop would be sweet. My fatty sometimes has to work hard to keep cool, so may have to invest in a slim.
Off topic: Finally got KZ3, Helghast Edition. About to play it now. The helmet is sweeeet! The action figure is pretty cool too.
gumbi,
You can't restore a backup made on one PS3 onto another PS3 (it will only copy certain items NOT including locked saves). I even had this happen with the exact same PS3 when it was returned after being repaired.
You can use the new feature to transfer everything from one PS3 to a new slim, but it will be removed from the original PS3. I haven't used that feature, so I can't provide more information.
In short, you'd probably have to install/download most everything if you want to use both PS3s.
Last edited by Fane1024 on 6/25/2011 3:04:17 AM
Well dang… thanks for the heads up Fane.
Man, every time I see something like this it freaks me out in regards to the lifespan of my fat PS3. I hope I don't ever need a new PS3. But if I do it's good to know the prices are dropping.
It's only a matter of time before PS3 jumps ova 360 in sells, the time is ticking. Tick tick tick……. xD This is a smart move to have another price drop. For all that your getting with the PS3 that is a steal =x
To think , it started off at 600 bucks.
Been saying this since the turn of the year. The new model going through approvals will likely hit the US at $249.99 – which is about the price point that 160GB systems have been discounted to recently.
All I know is that a $50 or more cut in price for the PS3 can't do anything but help.
yah $249, just the like the same price when the PS2 launched.
Last edited by AcHiLLiA on 6/24/2011 11:27:58 AM
PS2, which launched at $299 (not $249), 11+ years ago, would cost much more now. Adjusting for 11 years of inflation results in a much higher price. So it's not really a fair or valid comparison.
my new slim has frozen at least once on every game i've played so far. gotta return it for another one. although i am thoroughly enjoying my new panny 42" plasma 🙂
Speakin of freezin. I2 froze on me last night and during the freeze a system software update notice came up. I had to unplug the system from the wall as the controller and power button themselves were not responding so I had no other choice.
So speaking of updates. Does anybody know what the 3.66 update gave us? Was it just a security thing as I am sure we will now see at least on a monthly basis?
Not a lot of detail available about it other than improved stability. There were a lot of problems in Home after the Home 1.51 update, it may be that 3.66 fixes something in the firmware that Home 1.51 revealed as a problem.
Highlander
Why wouldn't they just update home with 1.52 or something then? I know it is minor, but I wish they would detail what the update is. Even if it is to close a loophole or problem they found. They don't have to tell us what the problem was, but still say it was to improve stability or it was a security patch, or we added a new sound tone when navigating the XMB, or we added features for more compatability to bluetooth headsets and USB cameras. Something at least.
Well, if there was a firmware issue causing a problem with Home, you could put a workaround into Home, but fixing the firmware would be the better course of action. Of course there's no confirmation if this firmware was even remotely related to that or not.
It's more probable that there was a security element that needed fixing.
Last edited by TheHighlander on 6/24/2011 1:51:41 PM
I'm just hoping that one of these "software stability" updates improves the stability of the browser. Two PS3 reboots so far tonight.
FN POS.
i would love to see the more aggressive price cut as long as it's financially viable for sony. maybe ms won't be as aggressive with its price cut and that will help close the gap. i remember when the ps3 dropped down to $299 around the time of uncharted 2. the ps3 actually outsold the 360 the following month in na. it only lasted for a month, but it shows a price cut can jumpstart sales.
What the PS3 needs is a new UI upgrade.
Not going to happen. The XMB works well for 99% of the time, the friend list is annoying, but other than that it's a simple and elegant approach. Either way, Sony won't change it on the PSP or the PS3.
They need to change the view downloads list. I have as of today 521 things downloaded from the store and with 2 PS3's I like to make sure each one has everything. Though sometimes I get busy and can't sync them. When I go to look up stuff I downloaded it would be nice to be able to either search for it instead of having to scroll through everything every time, or have it sorted into categories like games, themes, avatars, add-ons, etc.
And speaking of the download list I've noticed that since the hacking, most everything on my list says I downloaded it on 6/15/11 when I know for a fact some of those listed items were from months ago. It totally messed up the dates of when I first downloaded something. My first thing was from August 2007, and now that date has a 2011 one.
@ColTater
There is a search you can use on the Playstation Store. It's up top on the right look at the description and It'll say "Search". They also have some of it labeled as Avatars/Themes, Demo's etc.
Not after you go into the "View Downloads" tab and look at the list of stuff you have downloaded from the store.
If it is there, then whoa I have totally missed it. I will check tonight when I get home from work to see if it is my boneheaded oversight.
Ah, true. I misread what you meant. But yeah, they do need it for the 'View Downloads' though I agree with you on that.
The only reason anyone keeps saying the PS3 needs a new UI is due to the fact the Xbox had three. To anyone keep saying it needs to change, consider this: the PS3 UI is straight forward, elegant, and virtually hassle-less when it comes to organization. It's even won awards. The Xbox UI, on the other hand, has gotten far more boxes (including ads) and I found myself crossing over the categories I wanted. There's times when it even lags after you press the back button. If anyone needs a UI change, tell Microsoft to fix it [again].
ColTater,
I'm pretty sure the weird date change occurred because of PS Plus. When I re-upped my subscription, every PS Plus item's download date changed to the date when I re-upped.
If non-Plus items have new dates, I can only guess it's a glitch, but probably still related to what happened to me.
p.s. I'm with you 100% regarding the download list. After rebuilding my PS3's content twice, I've had enough of scrolling through hundreds of demos, etc. to last a lifetime.
Last edited by Fane1024 on 6/25/2011 3:22:24 AM
A price tag for 250 on the PS3 this November would be huge. It would jump the sales a lot and make many family's happy this holiday season.
I been wanting a second PS3 for a while. But more importantly I need a new TV. If I didn't wear glasses I would be getting that Playstation 3D Television. But, I'm suppose to get contacts sooo… Who knows? I just hate the idea of having to put glasses on to play video games and watch TV and Movies. I'm sure that will be fixed with in the next year.
I was happy paying 600 for my PS3. When It dropped to 300 I jumped on another one, that was a steal. It's like 50% off of what it's worth. The PS3 is on such a higher level then the other systems out there. You got to be an idiot if your a gamer and don't own one yet. The Wii and the 360 can both be bought for 100. Sony dropping to 250 some time in November would be a great move.
I see a PS3, Move bundle for 300 this holiday season. That puppy will sale real good.
Last edited by StangMan80 on 6/24/2011 3:03:09 PM
I just got my 320GB Move bundle for $294, thanks to the great guys at my local GameStop.
meh, what for?
if all the great games already released, and releasing are not enough to entice you to buy one, i cant see 20 bucks changing that!
100 maybe, but any less then that no real point.
seriously needs a price drop here though, i could buy 3 f*cking wiis for the price of 1 ps3!
or 2 360s!
Experts expect bears to shit in the woods before year is out…….duh!
Ok this may be good news for me.
I have an old Fatty and it just started giving me issues. I can't seem to get on Netflix and stay on ,and the same with the browser. I've messed with the settings rebooted network works for a little bit and then nothing. It's even froze up a few times and I hard to do a hard shut down with the power button.
Ideers to tide me over until the price drop? I gotsta have my flix fix nightly! I'm about halfway through American Dad series! ack