News written by Matti Robinson (September, 2006)

The earlier reported price cut for PS3 in Japan has been bashed down by CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) Kaz Hirai. Quoting GameSpot "There are no plans right now to adjust the pricing for the US market," said Hirai.

The over $100 price cut for the basic 20GB PS3 model in Japan is regional and won't, at least at this time, spread to other regions. The price cut neither effects other PS3 models. An industry analyst Mike Wallace of UBS Securities has stated that the move was "a questionable business decision and a sign of weakness."

The PlayStation 3 will debut in the US November 19 and the 20GB version will cost at least $499.

Source:
SlashGear
GamesIndustry.biz

Japanese site Impress Watch has reported that PlayStation 3 games will cost up to £52 ($100), gathering information from "multiple information sources." Most of the upcoming PS3 games will drop in the £39-52 ($75-100) range while even the most popular PS2 releases barely exceed £39.

It seems like Sony is going to be taking back money lost in the console creating process by selling over-expensive games. This already traditional business strategy has been also performed by Microsoft, yet you can get Xbox 360 games almost £20 ($38) cheaper. The cost of the PS3 unit, whether it is the dropped $410 in Japan or the more costly in the US or Europe, with these expensive games, it will lighten consumers' wallet quite a bit.

PlayStation 3 will launches November 17 in the US, November 11 in Japan and March 2007 in Europe.

UPDATE: According to SlashGear Sony is taking preorders of PlayStation 3 games for "only" $59,99, which is comparable to Xbox 360 game prices. All the seven games available in Sony Style USA have the price of $59,99 and include Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII, Call of Duty 3, Full Auto 2: Battlelines, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, Sonic the Hedgehog, Tony Hawk's Project 8, and Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom.

Sony has announced that it will lower the price of PlayStation 3 to diminish the price gap between PS3 and Xbox 360. The price cut is aimed for the basic version of the console with 20GB hard drive. Sony Computer Entertainment President Ken Kutaragi said at the Tokyo Game Show that the customers had been complaining about too expensive console, and they saw it necessary to cut the price.

After the price cut, basic PS3 model will cost 47,600 yen ($410), while it was originally planned for 59,800 yen ($515). Announced just a few days after Microsoft revealed its plans to release HD DVD player for Xbox 360 to match the PS3 Blu-ray technology, Sony seems to be competing against Xbox 360 also in price tags. The costs are pretty much the same in Japan, Xbox 360 with HD DVD player will cost around 49,600 yen ($427), making a mere $17 difference to PS3. This might give Sony a big boost and equalize with the problems with component manufacturing, pricing and delays.

PlayStation 3 will launch November 11 in Japan, November 19 in the United States, and as reported earlier European launch was delayed to March 2007.

Nintendo Wii's launch dates in November 19th in US and December 2nd in Japan will be accompanied with European launch in December 8th. With the delayed launch of PlayStation 3, because of Sony's internal delay in Blu-ray-components, Wii will be the only debuting console to hit the Christmas sales in Europe.

The package will be identical compared to the US and Japanese version of the console. It will include one remote controller, one nunchuck controller and the sports game collection Wii Sports. The recommended retails price for the console is £179/249 euros ($334/$315).

The Australian launch date was also revealed, in December 7 Wii will be sold for AU$399.95 ($301/238€/£160). Additional controler can be bought for a price of £29 (39 euros) for a remote, £14 (19 euros) for a nunchuck, and £14 (19 euros) for the classic controller.

Source:
GameSpot

Nintendo has announced in its press events in New York and Tokyo that it's "next-gen" console Wii, will launch November 19th in the US and December 2nd in Japan. The console will cost 25,000 yen (apprx. $213) in Japan and $249.99 in the US. European launch details are going be unveiled tomorrow.

The affordable $250 package will include the Wii unit, one wireless Wii Remote controller, one Nunchuk controller and a Wii Sports game collection which includes 5 sports games in one disc. Starting from the release day, Wii will get around 30 launch titles before the end of the year. The top launch titles include Wii Sports, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess and Excite Truck.

While the publishers decide their Wii game prices, first party Nintendo games will have MSRP of $49.99. Wii Shop Channel will include games from earlier Nintendo platforms for download that can be played using the Virtual Console. Nintendo followed Microsoft's footsteps and is using Wii points as credits, you can buy 2000 Wii points for $20 when NES games will be available for 500 Wii points, Super NES games for 800, and Nintendo 64 for 1,000.

For more information and video footage visit www.wii.com.

Nokia, the leader in mobile communications and Electronic Arts, the world largest interactive entertainment company have announced collaboration in terms of this and next-gen mobile phone games. This contract will allow Nokia users around the world to download EA games through Nokia Content Discoverer.

“Nokia and EA have a common vision regarding the opportunities in mobile games and how to turn them into a reality. When you combine Nokia’s leadership in hardware, usabiliy and software platforms with EA’s brands and quality thresholds, the results will speak for themselves,” said Jaakko Kaidesoja, Games, Multimedia, Nokia.

Planned to debut this holiday season, the service will include seven EA games, Tetris®, Tetris® Mania, The Sims™2, Doom®, FIFA 06, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® 06 and FIFA Street 2. The launch of Nokia's next generation mobile games platform in the first half 2007 will be supported by EA with upcoming S60 custom-designed EA Sports and other EA titles.

Source:
Press release

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) has announced delay for its next-generation console. The revision of PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system launch will affect the PAL territories of Europe, Russia, Middle East, Africa and Australasia. The new launch date is set for March 2007 and won't change those of Japan and North America.

The revision is caused by the delay in mass production of the blue laser diode within Sony. The company will not be able to produce the components used in PlayStation 3 on time and the launch date will change from previously announced 17th of November 2006 to March 2007 in SCEE territories.

The revision won't affect either the launch in other territories or the shipment forecasts. PlayStation 3 will debut in Japan November 11th and in North America November 17th and will ship 6 million units globally before the end of the fiscal year in 2007.

Source:
Press release

Microsoft has announced that its "first and only unified online games and entertainment network" has surpassed the 50 million downloads milestone. Just three weeks ago Microsoft was celebrating 25 million downloads, now with the help of Madden NFL 07 and Texas Hold 'em the online network has provided high-definition content for Live users for more than 2 billion hours.

Madden NFL 07, released on August 22, in its first week reached 600,000 achievements and over 2 million hours of Xbox Live hosted online play. Another big hit made the record for the most downloaded item in the first 24 hours in the history of Xbox Live Marketplace, Texas Hold 'em dropped bombshell with more than 140,000 downloads, 100 downloads per minute.

Xbox Live has offered latest game demos, trailers, music videos, Xbox Live Arcade games and online gaming for almost 4 years from its launch in November 2002. More than 60 percent of Xbox 360 owners have connected to Xbox Live and 1,3 million voice and text messages are sent every day via Live, and a huge boost is expected as the Xbox Live Vision camera will debut in three weeks. Microsoft has sold more than 2 billion points and after the launch of Xbox 360, Live users have downloaded Live content a total of 8 million times.