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The new packaging for the Europe PS3 Starter Pack (Source: PlayerOne)
Instead of paying less for a PS3, Europeans will get more

With much of the North American PS3 fence-sitters rejoicing at the $100 price cut of the 60GB model, other parts of the world wait anxiously for news of a price reduction in their own markets.

For Europe, waiting is no strange concept, as its PlayStation 3 launch lagged by the Japanese and North American ones by five months. While a very small number of lucky UK gamers were given free Sony Bravia TVs for their wait, the rest may be continuing to wait for a lower price before buying a PS3.

Unfortunately, the word from Sony Computer Entertainment Europe right now is that the price is staying exactly where it is. Furthermore, the 80GB model that was just announced to hit North America in August is not slated any time soon for Europe.

What European gamers will get is a new games and controller bundle that will add value to the existing price point of the console. The new “starter pack,” as the BBC reports, will consist of the 60GB machine packed with two SIXAXIS controllers and two games. According to GamesIndustry, consumers will get to pick any two from the games Resistance: Fall of Man,MotorStorm,Genji: Days of the Blade, Formula One Championship Edition and Ridge Racer 7.

The new package will retail in the UK for £425, unchanged from the console’s price at launch.

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Still a ripoff
By psychobriggsy on 7/13/2007 9:58:21 AM , Rating: 1
Well, it's a better deal if you want two of the offered games. All told it's probably worth about £100, making the console £325 ($554 after tax is removed). Hmm, some of the games are £30 at Amazon, and the controller is £28. So £88 worth, and Amazon sell the PS3 for £400. So you will be paying £425 to get what you can get now for £488. A £63 saving. It's something, I guess.

Still a ripoff (compared to the US and Japan). This isn't enough to make me want to buy a PS3.




RE: Still a ripoff
By stepone on 7/13/2007 10:43:16 AM , Rating: 2
The current exchange rate is $2.03 dollars = £1.

That brings the price to $864 for a 60gb UK PS3, or $364/£179 more than the US are paying (some of that extra is vat).

I like most gamers am still waiting for the PS3 to get down to around the £300/$600 range here in the UK before it becomes a viable option.

I would rather they cut the price rather than force a limited game selection down our throats...


RE: Still a ripoff
By michal1980 on 7/13/07, Rating: -1
RE: Still a ripoff
By RobFDB on 7/13/2007 11:35:51 AM , Rating: 2
Not quite 2x, but a lot more yeh. All items sold in the UK are subject to a 17.5% VAT charge. So something that costs £117.5 costs £100 before tax.


RE: Still a ripoff
By Sulphademus on 7/13/2007 4:40:50 PM , Rating: 2
17.5%?? Sheesh!

Just being in Europe it was weird how all the prices had the taxes built into them. Though at those rates, if they didnt, Id be in shock after the cashier slapped it on.

In the USA sale prices never include tax.
http://www.taxadmin.org/FTA/rate/sales.html
So in MD the $499 PS3 = $524.


RE: Still a ripoff
By RobFDB on 7/13/2007 5:15:42 PM , Rating: 2
When companies do that it just pisses me off. I want to know the actual price i'm going to be paying when I buy something. The funny thing is that VAT stands for Value added tax. I can understand it's a literal description of what the tax is, but it can be taken ironically too.


RE: Still a ripoff
By colonelclaw on 7/13/2007 11:31:07 AM , Rating: 2
i was also just thinking to myself that i'm going to wait until it hits £300

but think about it - £300 is still a hell of a lot of money. when the ps2 launched here in the uk at £300 pounds i remember thinking it was an outrageously high price. it's a sad turn of events that i'm now thinking £300 is just about reasonable for a games console


RE: Still a ripoff
By emboss on 7/13/2007 1:35:34 PM , Rating: 2
Down here in Oz Sony wants AU$999 = US$860, except there's only 10% GST (VAT) here. So in the UK, Sony gets $735, and in Oz gets $782 (57% Australia premium). I think that makes us the country where Sony is trying to shaft buyers the most, but corrections welcome :)

For reference, the 20GB + Wireless XBox 360 sells for $599, translating to US$469 going into MS's pocket (a mere 18% Australia premium).

For reasons I cannot fathom, however, the PS3 is (as of a couple weeks ago, haven't got anything more recent) the fastest selling console here, just sneaking in ahead of the Wii. Of course, in total numbers sold it's way behind as it launched so much later than the rest, but still ...


RE: Still a ripoff
By Aakmr on 7/14/2007 12:24:01 AM , Rating: 2
Don't worry. It's even worse here in New Zealand. The PS3 is $1200 (NZ) which is $940 (US). And still it sells well. New Zealanders like Sony far too much. As for the others we have:
Xbox 360 Elite: NZ$850 -> US$667
Xbox 360: NZ$650 -> US$510
Wii: NZ$500 -> US$392
So yeah, I suppose it's all shipping costs (at least I hope so).


RE: Still a ripoff
By Zoomer on 7/14/2007 7:45:01 AM , Rating: 2
Yeah, but that pretty much applies to all electronics for you poor guys down south.


RE: Still a ripoff
By moomoo on 7/14/2007 10:07:32 AM , Rating: 2
The markups are not sony's fault, all the consoles and i would assume most consumer items probly have similar price markups in Europe and other parts of the world compared to the US. (VAT, import tariffs, higher wages/benefits for workers, etc etc)


Sony h8s euros?
By phatboye on 7/13/2007 10:12:11 AM , Rating: 2
Does anyone know why Sony keeps screwing the Euros over? I don't understand why can't Europeans enjoy the same price discount that the rest over the world has received.




RE: Sony h8s euros?
By probedb on 7/13/2007 10:20:58 AM , Rating: 1
Because Sony Europe are a bunch of bleeped out words? And because the EU do nothing about it so they keep screwing us. I know quite a few peeps who are waiting for a price cut before buying....no price cut no PS3 so Sony just lost out on a lot of sales I'm guessing.


RE: Sony h8s euros?
By hardwaremister on 7/13/2007 10:26:22 AM , Rating: 4
That's simple... we don't need anyone to tell us to not be screwed by such a company.

I'm european and I choose not to feed the nipon giant, because it's laughing at my face and calling us 'chumps'.


RE: Sony h8s euros?
By nemrod on 7/13/2007 12:26:03 PM , Rating: 2
In fact this is not sure from whom they laughting...
No more 60Gb in USA in a very short time...
So no more 499$ PS3...
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=...


RE: Sony h8s euros?
By Sungpooz on 7/15/2007 5:41:38 AM , Rating: 2
is it can be hugs tiem now plees?...


GG Sony
By colonelclaw on 7/13/2007 9:30:11 AM , Rating: 5
i am a typical uk gamer

i own many consoles going back 15 years from all manufacturers

i will definately not be shelling out £425 for a ps3. FOUR HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE POUNDS?? are you having a laugh at our expense? do you hate the british? is this an april's fools joke come early?

what's next, a price rise?




RE: GG Sony
By hardwaremister on 7/13/2007 9:50:59 AM , Rating: 5
Of Course...

quote:
<joke> The Ps3 is a very undervalued, underpriced system. A price raise would make the customer more aware of the real value of this multimedia/supercomputer/hd/im/social/music/.../gam ing plataform, convincing our customers to jump IN! </joke>


So sad... they never ever learn...


SONY SUCKS
By pekingu on 7/13/2007 12:39:32 PM , Rating: 2
it is not a deeply intelectual statement but it is wht i actually think about sony agraviation of european customers. They have fired hundreds of employees in europe because the complete failure in this market and they still didnt got the lesson learn. Competence is ruling in this market and they still dont get the message, where do they get those mentally inept workers from.




By Scrogneugneu on 7/14/2007 12:41:56 AM , Rating: 2
Very smart.

So now, every time they sell a console, they can add 2 to the "games sold" count. The same tactic was used with the Blu-ray movies, when it was packaged in with the PS3. It's all about numbers. Give yourself a mean to show the investors that you sold a crapload of games, and they'll love you.

"Look, look, games sales are picking up! These games are very popular!"




hahaha sucks to be you
By HardwareD00d on 7/13/07, Rating: -1
"The whole principle [of censorship] is wrong. It's like demanding that grown men live on skim milk because the baby can't have steak." -- Robert Heinlein

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