Japan's PS3 Launch #'s Shrink Even More

[imdaly]

How low can you go?
How low can you go?

Looks like Sony can't get a PS3 shortage break. The Nikkei Keizai Shimbun paper reports today that due to component shortages, Sony will only have 80,000 PS3 units ready for Japanese launch instead of the originally planned 100,000 units. That's a 20% cut. First the European launch gets delayed because of production issues, now the Japanese launch availability is crippled even more than it previously was.

No word yet if the shortage will effect North American units but, if proportional, they could be cut to 320,000 available systems. Keep in mind that's six thousand less than the Xbox 360 sold in its first nine days, and a far cry less than the 900,000 360 units they managed to move in North America by the end of '05.

IGN also reminds us that the PS2 sold out of almost a million units when launched back in March of 2000. Expect Star Wars like lines a week before the November 11 Japanese launch. Not the day before or day of, the week before. May the force be with you, Japanese padawans.

So now Sony's down another 20k systems for launch? Because of production issues?? But I thought they said that they got those all ironed out!? Gee....

So how soon do you think it'll be until we find out how much lower the expected North America launch numbers will be dropped to next? I give it 3 days.

 

[Ice-man]

They always say its because of shortage of the blu ray diodes, without them he disks cant be read.

They should have started production on the system atleast a month or two earlyer.

Than sony would have met its 6 million by march goal.



But i think its better that theres less systems, If they all sell out we know people want the system than there will be a higher demand, And the second batch will sell like crazy.

Although some dont see it, I think its a good marketing stratagy.

 

[imdaly]

But i think its better that theres less systems, If they all sell out we know people want the system than there will be a higher demand, And the second batch will sell like crazy.

Although some dont see it, I think its a good marketing stratagy.

But see, Sony doesn't have to worry about building demand for the system. There are enough people out there wanting to buy that hunk of junk already for them to not worry too much about it, initially.

What they do need to worry about is giving their would-be customers any more time than they've already given them to consider buying an alternate game system instead of waiting. The ever-lowering number of PS3s available on launch will only hurt them in the end.

 

[Avalanche]

Why the smilies icon? This is bad news!

The constant downsizing of this launch is shoddy to say the least.

 

[Fenrir]

And to think Sony fanboys were jumping on Microsoft for the shortages at the 360's launch this time last year.

 

[imdaly]

Why the smilies icon? This is bad news!

Because Sony deserves every bit of this after the way they've been acting and the way they pointed and laughed at the XBOX360 launch last year.

 

[WhatsHisFace]

Japan can suck the fat one.

 

[Electro UK]

HAHA!

It just keeps getting better and better.