20Gb PS3 gets Japanese price cut and HDMI?

[Mentok]

From kotaku.com...

HONG KONG (Marke****ch) -- Sony plans to reduce the price of its soon-to-be-released PlayStation 3 game console, the head of its game division reportedly said Friday. Ken Kutaragi, president of Sony Computer Entertainment, said at the Tokyo Game Show that the console's less expensive version would now sell for 49,980 yen ($429), according to media reports. Kutaragi attributed the price cut to customer complaints that the console was too expensive. The PS3 is scheduled to be released on Nov. 11

A flash rumor just hit that the 20GB version of the Playstation 3 is getting a 9,000 yen price drop in Japan and that it will now feature an HDMI port. My sources couldn't speak to the price drop but tell me the HDMI port is legit.

I'll make sure to post a full story when we get to the bottom of this and also figure out if the price drop is spreading to other countries.

 

[Zenien]

IGN is reporting the same thing, we'll have to see if the other branches of SCE follow through.

http://ps3.ign.com/articles/734/734010p1.html

I highly doubt that they'd make a custom version of the low end PS3 just for the Japanese Market, so if the HDMI port is ligit, that means it will most likely be worldwide.

 

[TrailerCues]

The Japanese are certainly not the only ones complaining about the price. If Sony knows whats good for them the price drop will be for every country. But then again Japan is the home of the ultimate Sony ****es when it comes to gaming. So I would not be surprised one bit if the price drop is a Japan exclusive.

 

[SpiderFan17]

Isn't Japan traditionally known for lower hardware prices but higher software prices?

As much as a PS3 price drop in EU/US would be nice, I can't see it happening, at least not immediately when they already know it will be sold out at launch.

 

[Mentok]

Talk seems to be that HDMI support is world wide but the price cut is only for Japan.

Oh and Ken stated in the confrence that at the time of this years E3 no TV sets included HDMI, now most TV sets do so they will be including HDMI with both consoles.

Thats B.S HDMI was around during E3. Its not something that has suddenly appeared over the last few months

 

[TrailerCues]

the price cut is only for Japan.

If true this just shows the only want to focus on their main market (Japan) They can take notice of the Japanese (their biggest fans whining about the price) but not the rest of the world ?

Way to go Sony good one. Sony is just giving people more reasons to bash them they must like the negativity

 

[Zenien]

Considering that they're shipping 4 times as many consoles to America then Japan...

I think you're reaching.

 

[TrailerCues]

They are still screwing over everyone else. Not even you can fairly justify this decision

 

[Zenien]

Um, let's wait and see confirmation, before jumping to unfounded conclusions; like yours.

 

[hippie_hunter]

If this is true, I bet that the American price will be cut also. And like I said, it was bound to happen if people kept up their b***hing

 

[imdaly]

Talk seems to be that HDMI support is world wide but the price cut is only for Japan.

Oh and Ken stated in the confrence that at the time of this years E3 no TV sets included HDMI, now most TV sets do so they will be including HDMI with both consoles.

Thats B.S HDMI was around during E3. Its not something that has suddenly appeared over the last few months

Hmm...I wonder what that port on the back of my TV that says "HDMI" means then...

 

[Timstuff]

Japanese game prices have always been cheaper, so the price cut being Japan only does not surprise me at all. I mean, the Xbox 360 core is only like $215 over there, so this comes as not shock.

The inclusion of HDMI is going to be a very welcome change though, I'm sure. This was a major complaint about the system for a long time, and I'm glad to see Sony changed it.

It looks like MS has some explaining to do as to why the Xbox 360 still does not have actual HDMI output.

 

[CM Punk]

Why is that? It's capable of 1080p without it you know. That was kind of a big thing from TGS, guess you missed it

 

[Timstuff]

HDMI is a digital signal, while component cables (which Xbox 360 is confined to) are analog. And as any tech geek can tell you, Digital > Analog.

There is supposedly an HDMI cable coming out for the 360 that uses a converter box to transfer the 360's analog signal into a digital one, but that's basically like taking a VHS tape and recording it onto a DVD (not that extreme, but you get the basic idea). And since that supposed cable would cost $100, I can hardly see how it'd be worth it.

 

[CM Punk]

Yes, and all that still doesn't explain why MS would have any explaining to do for such a minuscule feature that so few would even notice. It'd be like people being up and arms because the PS3 doesn't have faceplates

 

[Danalys]

complete digital through put is not miniscule. a detachable piece of plastic is. sheesh it's like some of you dont want technology to improve. considering that gaming is built on technology, that's kind of silly.

 

[SouLeSS]

Sony spokeswoman Nanako Kato said there were no plans to lower the price in other markets.

From the Washington Post.

 

[SpiderFan17]

[/b]

From the Washington Post.

Just so you know, people will only hear what they want to. We'll still be subjected to "LOL TAKE THAT MIKKKRO$$OFT U GOT PWNED I CANT WAIT 2 BUY A CHEEPER PS3", even though they have confirmed this is for the Japanese territory, especially because of many region-specific factors (typically lower console price, Japanese economy not that great currently, more of a shortage of units than other territories, etc).

 

[SouLeSS]

Oh, I'm aware. I just like to point out the obvious things that fanboys don't accept because it cancels their whole agruement

 

[Timstuff]

Who cares if the Japanese price reduction doesn't come to America? Blu-Ray + HDMI output is most certainly worth an extra Benjamin over the Xbox 360 premium.

 

[Mentok]

Who cares if the Japanese price reduction doesn't come to America? Blu-Ray + HDMI output is most certainly worth an extra Benjamin over the Xbox 360 premium.

Unless you are among the millions of people who dont have a HDTV that has HDMI or 1080p support not to mention have no intrerest in BR-DVD video.

 

[kytrigger]

Since i got my HDTV relatively early, it has DVI instead of HDMI...is there a converter for this, or am I just going to stick to the component cables?

 

[Mentok]

Since i got my HDTV relatively early, it has DVI instead of HDMI...is there a converter for this, or am I just going to stick to the component cables?

Yeah... They can be very expensive though and the cheeper ones have a history if total failure.

http://www.edgetechcorp.com/accessories/dvi-hdmi-cables.asp

 

[kytrigger]

Yeah... They can be very expensive though and the cheeper ones have a history if total failure.

http://www.edgetechcorp.com/accessories/dvi-hdmi-cables.asp

thanks...and ouch that is expensive....It'd be better to just stick with the component and save teh money I would've spent on a new tv with HDMI in a couple of years

 

[Avalanche]

Unless you are among the millions of people who dont have a HDTV that has HDMI or 1080p support not to mention have no intrerest in BR-DVD video.

I can't speak for BR, but within the next five years or so, the public attitutde toward HDTV is going to become more welcoming. It will happen during the PS3 cycle.