PS3 price had to drop, reckons Nintendo bigwig

George Harrison was asked for his thoughts on Sony's decision to drop the price of the PlayStation 3 in North America from $599 to $499.

"I don't think they had any choice," opined Harrison, "It's pretty soon after launch to be dropping your price, but I'm pretty sure they had to do it. They had to start momentum in some form, but we don't think it's something that'll hurt us. It doesn't really affect us, since they're still far enough away."

GamerSquad will politely ignore the fact that the GameCube's price dropped less than six months after launch, George.

[Dr Pepper]

Well, of course it had to drop. That's why they did it.

[Crotin]

Wow, Nintendo is really starting to sound like Sony used to. It's actually kinda annoying...

[Don Carleone]

in 2 years time when soccer-moms will actually feel the wii is crappy, Nintendo will be quiet again

[gleek67]

Why is the wii so popular?
2 things -
1st PRICE. Duh. Sell the PS3 or a 360 for $250 and Nintendo would drop to 3rd in a day and stay there. No games and the RROD wouldn't even be a factor.
2nd Demand exceeds supply which has created a frenzy. We'll all look back on this someday and say WTF were we thinking?
With that said all systems have their merit. Enjoy the fruits of a competitve market everyone.

[ChickeyCantor]

"Sell the PS3 or a 360 for $250 and Nintendo"
i always giggle when people say this, if the hardware of PS3 and 360 could be sold @ that price dont be suprised Wii being 100 or less.

people call it an impulse buy, because its so cheap....well i wonder what will happen if the price was even lower?
everyone would pick it up because it would be so cheap you dont stop and think and consider it....its an " impulse" buy anyway, and lotsa fun.
more consoles sold is just a hint for devs to start making games for it.

So saying PS3 and 360 will outsell de Wii if they would be 250 is a bit stupid because you have to remember that if those 2 could be sold on such a low price the Wii would be way cheaper.

And like Scarlett said: on Ebay they are selling them for 450+ so go figure.

[aquaviva71]

CRAPPY

[kilgore]

they were quiet when the Gamecube flopped, but now that they're ahead, they open they're mouths

[power of Green]

From their point of view PS3 is flopping and Sony had to cut the price with a fake price-cut or clearance only months after it launched in a last ditch effort to not be left in the dust.

[BrianC6234]

Everyone knows the Wii is just a fed. Nothing more. Real gamers could care less about it. It's not a next gen console. Just a gimmicky controller. The one person I know who knows someone with one said they're bored of it. Nintendo will sell plenty of their own games but third party developers will dump it when their games don't sell. So go ahead dead Beattle George Harrison and laugh now. You won't have the last laugh. The Wii just isn't very good. It's the Gamecube with a new controller.

[ChickeyCantor]

"The one person I know who knows someone with one said they're bored of it."
LMAO.
So he said what the other said and im going to use that as an argument!

And please define : real gamers.
So its a GCN with a new controller...so that must be the key to its success.
3th party's will do fine specially now nintendo is having a better connection with them.

" So go ahead dead Beattle George Harrison and laugh now. You won't have the last laugh. "
sounds like a quote from a B-movie =D

[WIIIS1]

You're going to have a long wait.

[cmrbe]

I don't see how Nin couldn't win this gen if they are indeed in this new gen race. I don't hate Nintendo but i believe their wii is a step backward technically which is why i genuinely fear their success. Imagine if publisher and developers fully back wii cause they have the biggest install base and easier and cheaper to develop for. You guys have been saying the wii is just a fad but the fact is they have been outselling both x360 and PS3 at an alarming rate ever since it was lunch now close to a year ago with no sign of slowing down. It's really starting to show that wii will be the DS in the home console market which will be a disaster for us hardcore gamers. I hope this will not come to pass. I hope by the end of this year i would see a news headline saying x360 or Ps3 outsells wii. Do you guys think this will happen?. As the months passes,i am starting to come to terms with the realisation that this won't likely happen.

[ChickeyCantor]

"It's really starting to show that wii will be the DS in the home console market which will be a disaster for us hardcore gamers"
This is so cliche!
What if Wii will dominate, you think the next Nintendo console is going to be the same thing with only a name change?

you can bet on that Nintendo will advance with their new console.

[QuackPot]

The Wii's success is due to its pricing and controller/gameplay.

The wii will continue to dominate for another couple of years.

If the NEXT GEN CONSOLES copy the Wii's controller/gameplay OR provide their own stunning, enjoyable games with the traditional controllers then the Wii will start to be threatened in sales.

We know the next-gen games are well on their way(GeoW the first) and the price drops are coming.

So the Wii will fill a niche and lead the sales chart for the next couple of years then its time will be over. Just imaging what COD5/6, Motorstorm 2/3, Gears of War 2/3, GT6/5 would look like in four years time? There'll be nothing to come near them on the Wii with its old-gen technology.

But expect most casual gamers to have at least a Wii.....for the time being.

[s8anicslayer]

i don't think i could have said it etter myself, but despite nin's success when realy true next gen games start to pour out nin's going to feel what it feel's like to be inferior and will have a new system in the works. it's all about price and once ms and sony show the masses what next gen means then sub #300 console gamers will not have a problem with spending that extra cash for next gen gaming goodness, but when that becomes fact sony's machine will be leading the because it is more technologicaly advanced machine on the market.

reply to #7

[DARK WITNESS]

well i am not going to repeat myself...again.....

but i don't think this comment has anything to do with the Wii winning.

Everyone knows the price had to come down, Sony Fans knew the price had to come down, they wanted the price to come down.

i know so many sony fans who as much as they love the ps brand, just could not buy PS3.

i just remember a comment not to far back, some sony exec having a go at M$ for all the Unofficial price drops and bundles they were doing and him saying it was not a good sign to be doing these low price bundles so early in the consoles life...

well now, really...

[cmrbe]

I hope your right mate. As for the nin dudes comments. He can say what he said cause they are really smoking the comp but still not nice though what he said but its true. He should have been more diplomatic.

[ChickeyCantor]

Indeed, Its more Pro if you keep it low.

[THAMMER1]

What do you expect SONY's competitors to say. "NO COMMENT?" Of course they will answer that question. IF you have not noticed Wii fan boys do not have to defend the Wii blood and nail the Wii speaks for its self.

[texism]

He gloats a little bit and it's "Oooh Nintendo sucks now that they are owning the competition"

What about when the Wii was called a lolipop? This guy deserves to gloat a little. Besides, he didn't even gloat. All he said was Sony had to do a price drop to gain momentum, and he doesn't think it's hurting Nintendo. Is that gloating? No! He is just speaking the freakin truth. Give Nintendo a break haters! GOD!

[s8anicslayer]

obviously mass gamers don't want to pay $600 for a console, in order to move consoles dropping the price is a smart business move for sony. let's not be surprised if we see another one when the 80gig is introduced, i'm sure there will be a $399 sku! as for nintendo kudos on their success, but once sony gains a little more bulk in their games library im sure they will be #1 again!

[ChickeyCantor]

I dont know about you but havnt you realised the ones who played Wii-sports( normaly dont game) and loved it would get a PS3 or a 360 if the price would be lower?

O let me guess you are thinking from a HARDCORE perspective how dumb of me.

[FinalomegaS]

Yes the truth hurts and it seems as though the Sony fans feel the hurt of his truthful words, but that's what he's paid for, you don't think he or any other PR talks out of context. They know what they have to say or they will end up like...Please see attachment. Thought you guys might of like that pic :)

~Arm