Is Sony shortchanging Australian and UK PS3 fans?

After 3 days of waiting for the promised 17% price cut for the PlayStation 3 – as relayed by Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) Managing Director Michael Ephraim – Australians were instead given value packs with 2 free SIXAXIS controllers thrown in along with a game. The value pack is estimated to have a price value of US$ 125.

Since they already spend about US$ 400 more for a PS3 unit than U.S. gamers, Australian PlayStation fans wonder if the move was done in an effort to make up for lost profits, or “price gouging.”

On the UK side of the fence, gamers resorted to protesting that Sony did not keep the promise of the price cut, but instead received a starter pack similar to what the Australians were offered in lieu of discounted PS3 units. “The starter pack means customers are getting £ 115 of added value for the same price,” said a Sony UK spokesman. “How can that possibly be ripping people off?”

The price cut supposedly meant for the UK market was canceled only a few days after the U.S. got a clean US$ 100 chopped off from the cost of 60GB units, much to their chagrin. Also, the 80GB PS3 units previously exclusive to Koreans were not made available to UK and Australian consumers despite being launched in the U.S.

The recent events have caused UK PlayStation fans to spend US$ 420 more for a PS3 unit more than their U.S. counterparts. However, the free games offered in the value packs do look good: Resistance: Fall of Man, Motorstorm, Genji: Days of the Blade, Formula One Championship Edition and Ridge Racer 7.

After 3 days of waiting for the promised 17% price cut for the PlayStation 3 – as relayed by Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) Managing Director Michael Ephraim – Australians were instead given value packs with 2 free SIXAXIS controllers thrown in along with a game. The value pack is estimated to have a price value of US$ 125.

Since they already spend about US$ 400 more for a PS3 unit than U.S. gamers, Australian PlayStation fans wonder if the move was done in an effort to make up for lost profits, or “price gouging.”

On the UK side of the fence, gamers resorted to protesting that Sony did not keep the promise of the price cut, but instead received a starter pack similar to what the Australians were offered in lieu of discounted PS3 units. “The starter pack means customers are getting £ 115 of added value for the same price,” said a Sony UK spokesman. “How can that possibly be ripping people off?”

The price cut supposedly meant for the UK market was canceled only a few days after the U.S. got a clean US$ 100 chopped off from the cost of 60GB units, much to their chagrin. Also, the 80GB PS3 units previously exclusive to Koreans were not made available to UK and Australian consumers despite being launched in the U.S.

The recent events have caused UK PlayStation fans to spend US$ 420 more for a PS3 unit more than their U.S. counterparts. However, the free games offered in the value packs do look good: Resistance: Fall of Man, Motorstorm, Genji: Days of the Blade, Formula One Championship Edition and Ridge Racer 7.