The Official Gaming Deals Thread

**ChairoNoMe** · 08-18-2009, 11:53 AM

Originally Posted by javierdlopez

I am officially surprised... A step in the right direction.

They should have had a $299 model available at launch. But still, cheaper is better.

**javierdlopez** · 08-18-2009, 12:00 PM

Originally Posted by ChairoNoMe

They should have had a $299 model available at launch. But still, cheaper is better.

I think they overestimated what consumers were willing to pay for a console. Had they not included the BluRay drive, they may have been able to launch a new console in that price range, instead of the $600 they were charging early on.

So they attracted big budget movie guys who were looking for BluRay players. At this point, I'm not sure there's going to be that many people running out to buy a PS3, even at the $299 pricepoint. We're 3 or 4 years into this generation, they will drum up sales but they'd have to have drastic increases in software sales to attract the kind of buzz the 360 and Wii enjoy.

Guess we'll have to wait and see. There still aren't enough exclusives that would drive me to purchase one.

**WorknMan** · 08-18-2009, 01:58 PM

It's still about $100 more than I want to pay. Is the PS3 still the only future-proof BR player out there, or can one be had for $200 or less with the same features (minus playing games, of course) and upgradability?

**alexjlopez** · 08-18-2009, 02:01 PM

Any word on PS2 compatibility or is it the same?

Not "trolling", but as a 360 owner, I really don't see a reason to jump into a PS3. My local Walmart has a regular priced blu-ray player for $98 at this point.

For someone who owns neither a 360 or a PS3 though, this certainly levels the playing field between Microsoft and Sony. It will be an interesting holiday season.

**entexman** · 08-18-2009, 02:05 PM

Wow it seems Sony is desperate at this point. How much of a loss are they taking on each PS3 sold at $299? At this point I have all I need for gaming this generation (Wii/360). Blu-Ray does not interest me too much. I guess the Hardcore's who did not get a PS3 yet might jump on this. I can't see the average consumer being all that interested though.

**alexjlopez** · 08-18-2009, 02:25 PM

It will sell well for months at least--I can see lots of current PS3 owners upgrading to this.

**Chewchilla** · 08-18-2009, 02:27 PM

Originally Posted by alexjlopez

Any word on PS2 compatibility or is it the same?

The PS3 Slim does not play PS2 games.

From G4:
PlayStation 3 Slim Not Backwards Compatible With PlayStation 2 Games

Given that Sony didn't make a note of it at its GamesCom press conference, most assumed the impending slimmer version of the PlayStation 3 would not have backwards compatibility with PlayStation 2 games. In the official press release announcing the new hardware, this suspicion has been confirmed: there is no compatibility.

"Note: This product is not compatible with PlayStation 2 games," reads the release.

**javierdlopez** · 08-18-2009, 02:35 PM

There's also a separate 160gb slim model for $399. No PS2 compatibility either.

**liyouxi** · 08-19-2009, 01:09 AM

Originally Posted by billwabo

I'd like to quote myself on this since it's now official, PS3 slim coming September at 299$
http://kotaku.com/5339968/sony-annou...this-september

Wifi, 120 gig HD and blue ray player with free online, if you can't see the value in that you're just trolling.

Haha, just have to laugh at this for a moment.

At this point last gen the third place console had already been at $99 for a year, and the PS2 had also been at $199 for at least a year.

In light of that I'd say the PS3 is still overpriced. Of course the PS3 is doing much better than the gamecube, and given the state of Sony's finances, and of course the ridiculous cost of making a PS3 I understand why they don't sell it for less.
anyway it's still a long way from being a good value for playing video games.

**alexjlopez** · 08-19-2009, 05:55 AM

It's a fair deal for a gamer who doesn't own an HD console. All those Wii owners out there that may have been considering a second console, or folks who don't own a video game console from this generation at all will have a choice. When you factor in the extra $100 you pay just to get wifi on 360, and consider how few people own a blu-ray player at this point, you're getting a lot for those $300.

The more I think about it, the more I think they'll have a damn good holiday season selling these. Their biggest hurdle will be to convince existing 360 owners that they'll get something worthwhile out of the investment. Free online gaming helps, I don't see gamers paying for two "Live" accounts. Blu-ray also helps, but I think they'll need a push at some point (a handful of free movies via mail-in rebate or something similar) to get existing 360 owners to bite.