UK retail: Consumers to decide PS3’s fate
The UK retail sector says that the consumers will ultimately decide if the price is right when it comes to the PS3. According to GamesIndustry, UK retailers – from entertainment chains all the way to independent specialists – say that whatever analysts or industry insiders may think of the PS3’s price-tag, gamers will vote with their wallets.
Tim Ellis, head of games at HMV, says that although the price may seem steep, especially when it comes to non-core PlayStation fans, the PS3 is “is much more than just a games console.” He also says that gamers know this already and will respond to the product accordingly.
Don McCabe, MD of specialist chain Chips thinks that consumers will first consider if the console is worth the asking price. He explains:
I don’t think the price point will put customers off, although they’ll be looking at the specification of the machine carefully to see if anything has changed from the US and Japanese units.
…It’s a lot of money, so it has to deliver everything the consumer expects – and if it does it may go some way to allaying fears of Europe being treated as second best.
Steve O’Brien of leading indies store Action Replay says that he thinks that “People have a lot more disposable income and they don’t mind spending it if they understand what they get for it. The PS3 is a lot more than just a games console, and those that are going to buy it understand that.”
Sony has yet to reveal just how much of the 1 million units headed for Europe will be allocated to the UK. If it will be at around 30%, GamesIndustry speculates that it may not be enough to meet the unprecedented demand from a loyal PlayStation fan-base.
Retail has also praised the larger amount of software launch titles that Sony has ready for Europe. Moreover even if the PS3 didn’t have a “killer app” it seems that retailers are still pretty confident about the PS3’s selling power. Steve O’Brien says, “PS3 could sell all it’s entire allocation – whatever that might be – three times over without a single killer game over the next twelve months.”
Via GamesIndustry
The UK retail sector says that the consumers will ultimately decide if the price is right when it comes to the PS3. According to GamesIndustry, UK retailers – from entertainment chains all the way to independent specialists – say that whatever analysts or industry insiders may think of the PS3’s price-tag, gamers will vote with their wallets.
Tim Ellis, head of games at HMV, says that although the price may seem steep, especially when it comes to non-core PlayStation fans, the PS3 is “is much more than just a games console.” He also says that gamers know this already and will respond to the product accordingly.
Don McCabe, MD of specialist chain Chips thinks that consumers will first consider if the console is worth the asking price. He explains:
I don’t think the price point will put customers off, although they’ll be looking at the specification of the machine carefully to see if anything has changed from the US and Japanese units.
…It’s a lot of money, so it has to deliver everything the consumer expects – and if it does it may go some way to allaying fears of Europe being treated as second best.
Steve O’Brien of leading indies store Action Replay says that he thinks that “People have a lot more disposable income and they don’t mind spending it if they understand what they get for it. The PS3 is a lot more than just a games console, and those that are going to buy it understand that.”
Sony has yet to reveal just how much of the 1 million units headed for Europe will be allocated to the UK. If it will be at around 30%, GamesIndustry speculates that it may not be enough to meet the unprecedented demand from a loyal PlayStation fan-base.
Retail has also praised the larger amount of software launch titles that Sony has ready for Europe. Moreover even if the PS3 didn’t have a “killer app” it seems that retailers are still pretty confident about the PS3’s selling power. Steve O’Brien says, “PS3 could sell all it’s entire allocation – whatever that might be – three times over without a single killer game over the next twelve months.”
Via GamesIndustry