Sony exec questions high price of Wii, 360 hardware

Consoles too expensive for intended audiences, says Oz boss.

Sony Australia's Michael Ephraim has questioned the price point of rival next-gen hardware, stating the Wii is "a lot to fork out" for the intended family audience, while branding the Xbox 360 as "pricey".

Speaking to Australia's The Age newspaper, Ephraim also said he believes that the PAL delay of the PS3 will not impact sales in the long term.
"My only question for this Christmas on Wii is the price point," said Ephraim.
"Even though it's affordable, at AUD $400 (EUR 237) plus whatever you need to buy accessories-wise, I'm guessing you need to spend about AUD $500 (EUR 296) to take home a Wii and enjoy it."

"For this Christmas, I think that price point is still not family entertainment because AUD $500 is a lot to fork out, but we welcome the Nintendo heritage of gaming where they can appeal to a broader audience because long-term that is critical for the industry," he said.

And while admitting Microsoft had done "fairly well" at launch, the Australia boss believes the Xbox 360 is focused on too narrow an audience and still priced too high.
"I think their product offering is still not broad enough. The content is narrow and appeals only to a very core group," he said.

He added: "It's still pricey, and I'm sure Microsoft will do everything they can, but if you just look at the offerings from each format and the marketplace that we are now playing in, especially PlayStation 2, it has to be affordable because we are talking about mass-market and non traditional gamers."

[shotty]

I wonder what he did in the interview when they told him the price of the ps3.

[DC RID3R]

that's a bit much coming from a company who's machine will retail for $1000.00 aus dollars!!!

DUMBA**

[Islandkiwi]

You've got to admit, that guy has balls. "Those consoles are way too expensive...you should wait for ours, which costs twice as much."

[Daewoodrow]

I'm actually going to stick around for the fanboy wars on this one. I couldn't stop laughing. You could tie the irony of this article to a rope and use it to knock down walls.

[uxo22]

That was good Daewoodrow, well stated

[USMChardcharger]

? guy needs counseling. he is in denial about the PS3's price.

[ASSASSYN 36o]

Wow what do they get to smoke in the Sony corp. I have never read such delusional bull doo doo.

[unleash bass]

This bloke is a complete and utter idiot! How dare he say these things about the 360 and Wii when the PS3 is by far the most exspensive.

NOB!

[bilal]

meant that 89 model toyota (360 or wii) are too expensive for what they are....
he is not complaining about ferrari (ps3)... he knows that it costs (and should) cost way more ,...

[Sphinx]

Seriously, could you please remove Sony's "Teabag" from your mouth for 2 seconds?!

[THAMMER1]

He is atached like a tick. You would have to burn him off. Who wants fire near the the bunch.

[uxo22]

Don't forget about the "FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT" line he used. Haha, the way I see it, that Toyota that you spoke of is more like something that a family would buy. Only rich, hardcore enthusiast would buy a Ferrari.

So, if you pegged him right, you've proved that he is drinking and driving..lol

[bilal]

is for everyone...
i only said that good things dont come cheap....
for the first 1-1.5 years the ps3 is for enthusiasts not everyone...

[HRP]

What's that? Sony making skewed comments about its only two competitors in the gaming market?

For the $600 it would cost you to buy just the PS3 console, you could spend the same amount of money on: Wii Console, 3 Extra Controllers (With Nunchaku!), 3 Games (Not including WiiSports!) and the Classic Controller!

This guy is absolutely nuts.

[Dusk]

that not only does Sony say the most ridiculus stuff pretty much weekly, but their fanboys still eat it up. Which is crazier, that Sony says these ridiculus things? Or that its fanboys (like Bilal) eat it up and then regergitate out something similar?

[jedicurt]

I do kinda of have to agree on the price of the Wii. for what you get, and for what hardware is there, it is overpriced in my opinion by about $50-75.

[beans]

I Feel the same and think i will pass on a wii all together! There just asking for to much money on something thats probably less powerful than the original xbox! Im sure they will have great games but by the time the price drops 360 and ps3 will have games that make me look at wii as even more of a joke in the visuals department! This holiday im going to purchase 2 more 360's for both my younger brothers so we can play Gears,RB6, Splinter Cell and Cod3 on live together!

[Funky Town_TX]

To tell us what a good price is. My wallet/budget tells me what a good price is. PS3 for $400 for me. Nintendo Wii should cost $150.

[HRP]

By that logic, *everything* would be cheaper and I'd have a HD flat-panel by now with surround sound...

[THAMMER1]

I told this guy not to talk to the pess after smoking crack.

[FordGTGuy]

"meant that 89 model toyota (360 or wii) are too expensive for what they are....
he is not complaining about ferrari (ps3)... he knows that it costs (and should) cost way more ,... "

you mean:
Xbox 360 = Ford GT
PS3 = Ferrari F430
Wii = Lotus Exige

[blackmagic]

PC=Ferrari F430
Highest performance out there but for a price. Even more performance can be achieved with pricey aftermarket specialty parts.

Xbox 360=Subaru Impreza WRX STi
PS3=Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX
These two represent the best bang for buck performance on the street. They approach performance with different ideologies and each have strengths and weaknesses when compared to each other but overall they are very comparable.

Wii=Mazda Miata
These guys say performance isn't about horsepower, it's about handling.

[Sphinx]

...the only console worth its price this holiday season is the Xbox360. Why? Because it is the only console with enough good games to choose a few that you want, it is the only console that has proven its worth so far (Xbox Live!), and it is the only console that is consistently trying to improve itself with Dashboard updates and new and exciting peripherals, accessories and announcements at each and every gaming conference.
The Wii is at least launching with a Zelda game, while the PS3 gets a bunch of ports, some rushed launch games, and 2 or 3 descent games.

[Ugly American]

I just paid off my PS3, and I choked on that. And I bought a $3000 HDTV without batting an eyelash. I agree with Sphinx that until Spring, the PS3 just doesn't have enough games that I don't already have. I will enjoy the Blu-Ray movies and maybe one or two of those launch games.

[FordGTGuy]

I respect your wishes and I hope you enjoy your HDTV and PS3 but please don't think were dissing you were just dissing Sony and the PS3. Your money and your decision and noone can change that!

[Ugly American]

I dig your comments about the Ford Gt vs Ferrari. I happily own a 360. I was just lamenting the lack of launch titles. And continuing the trend that this guy is retarded, I thought I would pick up a PSP to complement the PS3...until I realized it was $250.00...the same price as a next-gen console. I didn't see him comment on that in his little "they are too expensive" tirade.

[Boink]

this guy just made my day...sony calling the wii and the 360 too expensive

Irony: noun [i-run-ee)
1. see sony re: pot smoking execs

[CompGeek]

The Wii definitely is overpriced. But the 360 is definitely not, and Sony has no room to talk vs. Wii.

"Microsoft is focused on too narrow and audience, they only focus on 3D. We at Sony bring you 4D games that will cater to a whole new audience that lives in 4D."

We been own3D!!!111!11