The Sony Effect

Whenever a new gaming unit, be it handheld or home console, is released; Sony is always known to tag them with a fairly hefty price. The PlayStation 3 went for $600 when it made its way to store shelves, the PlayStation 2 didn’t even have many consoles released in North America to uphold the high demand, resulting in insane prices If memory serves me correctly, I believe that it went for $1000, brand new, on some web-sites (eBay) Well, it seems that PlayStation Vita, the latest in handhelds, falls in that same category.

[Lord_Sloth]

The PS2's official price was $299. You can't count Ebay prices as Sony's prices. That's users who purchased it and then capitalized on the lack of supply.

[Pixel_Enemy]

The Sony effect is putting out great hardware only to be followed up with doom and gloom articles non stop.

Sony launches hardware with advanced specs and features that make it future proof through out the lifecycle of the device. This also drives up the cost at launch. If you want to be on the bleeding edge of tech buy it at launch, if you don't then wait for the price to drop.

Simple as that.

[ginsunuva]

Then they continue to pump out dozens of the best games of all time each year and the media doesn't change.

[MastaMold]

@ Pixel_Enemy, very well said couldnt agree more spot on

[Mounce]

Well god damn said.

Glad someone out there is smart enough to at least know Sony's hardware business practice....even though they make it blatantly obvious...

Lot of fanboys just rather instead imagine that Sony is full of stupid people who indecisively do things without researching and shove it out the door blindly. I just can't comprehend how these fanboys and tools think so groundlessly and irrationally.

[MaxXAttaxX]

Article FAIL
The PS3 base price was $500. These people always talk like $600 was the only option, a price that only lasted 6 months.

And eBay prices don't count at all.

No one had a problem with the Nintendo 3DS releasing at $250.
And after we learned about the Sony "NGP", EVERYONE estimated it being at least $350 to $400 due to its much higher specs.
When the Vita was confirmed at $250, everyone was surprised. It was much cheaper than most people thought.
Nintendo immediately dropped the price and all of a sudden the Vita was now way too expensive because of the memory cards? What a joke.

All systems get price cuts. Saying that it needs one is redundant as we already know it will.
___

Without a doubt, most doom and gloom articles this gen have been aimed at Sony.
YET Sony continues non-stop to deliver what counts: Games. Whether its classic titles or new IPs.

[MistaDonzie]

This article = fail

[NoSleepJT]

Remember at the initial press release, when it was code named NGP. and everyone speculated that it would be priced between 300 - 400 dollars? And when they said it was going to be $250 everyone lost their minds because it was cheaper than the 3DS. But now a year and a half later $250 is way too much money.... Yes their memory cards are very overpriced. But still. I find it sad that no matter how hard Sony tries to do good, the Internet hates them

[vividi]

that my friend is the really sony effect

[Pixel_Enemy]

Exactly...

[PirateThom]

That's what annoys me. The price was perfectly fine... until the thing released.

And the more people hate, the more Sony seem intent on pleasing people. The same thing happened to the PS3 and Sony kind of went a bit insane with exclusive games and adding features.

[MasterCornholio]

Correction.

The price was fine, then Nintendo gave a major price drop to the 3DS.

According to many people since the 3DS is priced at 180€ the Vita since it's a handheld has to be priced the same. What these People never take into account is the quality of the tech in the Vita. So it's really impossible for the Vita to have the same production costs as the 3DS due to the higher quality design and hardware.

XperiaRay

[XXDubStepXX]

WOW. Spot on. I too remember the shock that came about after sony reveled the vitas price. Most people thought it was a great price point at first. all it really took for them to change their minds was nintendo lowering the price of their extremely dated hardware. suddenly, 250$ for a handheld thatd been out for only a few months was absolutely unacceptable.

though ive always thought that ANYTHING over 200 is a high price, i have to say that this vita hate is such a pathetic attempt to belittle sonys accomplishments. All theyve been doing over the past few years is releasing hardware/software that would cater to MORE THAN just the money making casual crowd. Even the playstation move has full blown functionality with A TON of everyones favorite hardcore shooters. what more could the hardcore crowd ask for? not really sure. but for the love of god, just stop with the hate.

[homer]

It wasn't cheaper than the 3ds. It was the same price.
Edit: Also, 250 USD was always too much. Nintendo didn't drop their price because they were afraid of sony, they dropped their price because they realized people don't want to pay that much for a handheld. Everyone was just shocked that sony could meet nintendo's price.

[NoSleepJT]

The vita is an amazing handheld. It has the potential to be a competitor with the iPad functionality wise, with PS Suite going in motion we will get to see a lot more indie titles like you see on the iPad on the vita. And the fact that it can do Internet and twitter and other apps is just crazy. With how much Sony does to try to do what the hardcore gamer demographic asks for, they deserve more respect. Good thread!

[Gigawatt25]

The PS Vita = worth every penny. Amazing piece of hardware for the price and it's priced perfectly. The Vita just needs time for more games to come out. Jebus, its only been like 3 months. People saying that it has failed are delusional. 1.8 million isn't a bad start.

[younglj01]

If people was smart like most of Sony/Playstation customer they would have started saving money once the PS Vita was official shown.Seriously people this and handheld console with everything you can asked for.The only problem is the price of the memory cards.But you really cant complain because this is amazing tech.

Sony tried so hard too please gamers and get no respect.But other companies screw their customers and get all of the glory.I truly dont see Sony showning/teasing PS4 until probably E314 with an release in Winter 14.Sony have been in the gaming business for 15 years.

If no showing at next year E3 I bet at E314 you will see the PS4 and an PSV2 bundle.I think 2 years perfecting cross-platform with PS3/PSV will benefit them in the future.There is so many games that Sony can bring out of the vault too release.And tbh Sony really dont care about releasing after the 720 because true fans of the Playstation brand will have one in their collection.

Bring on E312 ;)

[bahabeast]

sony is best gaming company bar fa IMO they really care about their consumers and push quality hardware and software, the AMERICAN media killed sony

[dalibor]

Don't understand why the american media all of a sudden hated on Sony when back in the Ps1/2 eras it was not like that. I prefer Sony but I don't hate on Nintendo and Microsoft. None of them should be hated on to be realistic because they each did something great for the gaming community and offer different gaming playstyles. All for one and one for all

[bahabeast]

well the xbox 360 is the first successful american console and microsofts money is long.

IMJUSAYIN

[FGHFGHFGH]

I don't think it's because XBOX is an American console. I think it's because of the BILLIONS of dollars microsoft spends on advertising. (isn't that how the media gets their revenue?)

[Fern317]

Hello fellow gamers.

I am the author of this article, and I have read each and every one of your posts. I encourage different opinions; this is why I wrote this article.

I will answer all comments, in the form of points.

- The Playstation 2 sold for various prices.

- Sony Products aren't strategically thought out completely. Playstation 3 wasn't intended to have Playstation Move. Yet, it was discovered that the PS3 had far more capabilities then originally thought; thus, Sony capatalized on it.

- Software plays a huge part in any console release. Poor software, leads to poor sales; Playstation Vita doesn't have a stellar line-up (In my eyes)

- Sure, cross Platform gaming is a great idea. But, having to buy the same game twice, on their respective systems, for full price, just to use one of the intended features on the Vita? That quite simply makes Sony look greedy.

- Sony going "crazy" on adding features, is a direct result of Sony responding to the moves that both Nintendo and Microsoft make; mainly Microsoft as both systems share titles.

- 3DS does not have dated hardware; it was one of the first systems to introduce glasses free 3D; which sometimes isn't amazing on some games, but the tech is in no way, dated. Not to mention, the battery is far superior to that of the Vita.

- I fully acknowledge that the Vita is a powerful device, and have said that in my article. But with the launch of eShop, the Playstation Suite isn't the only handheld releasing indie games.

- in response to Younglj01, Sony is planning a Holiday 2013 release for the PS4, code-named "Orbis". So I suspect that E3 2013 will have several tasty tidbits about the system, and the launch line-up.

- Nintendo lowered their price because it was deemed a "failure", yet it sold more then the Vita within it's first 3 months, at $300. Numbers suggest that Vita is coming into a price drop.

This article is not hatred towards Sony. I, myself, have a Playstation 3 that I consider my technological baby. But, I am also not going to be bias in my opinion. I maintain that the Vita is overpriced; when considering everything that Sony expects. Cross platforming? that's over $110 for the same game on both consoles; factor in the Vita, then the top memory card, and you are looking at about $459; and that's without considering taxes.

My opinion is formed after gathering all facts and the numbers.

I do appreciate the comments, and I hope that you commenters will visit http://www.hardreset.co.uk/ and read the other articles written by our fine staff, and myself.

[Raoh]

Sony should follow ms's strategy.

First they released a console with faulty power cords that caused fires.

Then they released a console with no hdmi, wifi, a power brick, a pay wall and a freely included RROD for every customer out of the box.

If sony could follow that plan, they could capture the american market very easily.

[jamesensor]

I don't know why this is in the psp section since it isn't a psp news. Many articles in the psp section seem to be very short related to this console. For example, I press control+f in this article and can't find a single mention of it. This should be corrected..