Kaz Hirai, US PS3 price, and silver linings

A couple things we found over at GamesIndustry.biz are worth thinking about now that we’re so close to the PS3 launch. First, the price. Yeah, admit it. You’re still hoping for a price drop like the Japanese units. But think, if there’s going to be a price drop, you’d think Sony would’ve already announced it, right?

Ken Kutaragi announced the Japanese price drop way back in September (and Kazuo Hirai quickly told Americans to abandon all hope ye who want a price cut). Why would Sony keep a U.S. price drop secret when you need positive buzz before a launch?

“We are very comfortable with the pricing we have announced,” Kaz Hirai said this week. Sony has had “tremendous support” from retailers.

So it looks like the price will stay at US$ 499 for the 20GB version and the $ 599 for the 60GB version. But there is a silver lining. The HDMI video connector will also be on the 20GB unit (it was originally only on the 60GB).

And there’s another silver lining. Yes, for the Japanese, the PS3 is only Â¥ 49,980 (that’s about US$ 425, give or take a few). But according to GamesIndustry.biz, the Japanese will have to fight over only 80,000 units, whereas the U.S. will get 400,000 units of the PS3 come November 17th.

So, on the off chance that Kaz Hirai’s son has to line up for a PS3, he might stand a better chance if he camps out with us outside Wal-Mart. Hehe.

A couple things we found over at GamesIndustry.biz are worth thinking about now that we’re so close to the PS3 launch. First, the price. Yeah, admit it. You’re still hoping for a price drop like the Japanese units. But think, if there’s going to be a price drop, you’d think Sony would’ve already announced it, right?

Ken Kutaragi announced the Japanese price drop way back in September (and Kazuo Hirai quickly told Americans to abandon all hope ye who want a price cut). Why would Sony keep a U.S. price drop secret when you need positive buzz before a launch?

“We are very comfortable with the pricing we have announced,” Kaz Hirai said this week. Sony has had “tremendous support” from retailers.

So it looks like the price will stay at US$ 499 for the 20GB version and the $ 599 for the 60GB version. But there is a silver lining. The HDMI video connector will also be on the 20GB unit (it was originally only on the 60GB).

And there’s another silver lining. Yes, for the Japanese, the PS3 is only Â¥ 49,980 (that’s about US$ 425, give or take a few). But according to GamesIndustry.biz, the Japanese will have to fight over only 80,000 units, whereas the U.S. will get 400,000 units of the PS3 come November 17th.

So, on the off chance that Kaz Hirai’s son has to line up for a PS3, he might stand a better chance if he camps out with us outside Wal-Mart. Hehe.