Konami defends inflated MGS4 bundle cost
By Joshua Topolsky 
posted May 30th 2008 7:52PM
posted May 30th 2008 7:52PM
[Via Wired]
posted May 30th 2008 7:52PM
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Its not overpriced. Have you guys heard of something called inflation? The U.S. Dollar is not worth as much as it used to be so it takes more notes to buy the same stuff now.
Uh, no. We're in a recession, so (smart) companies will drop prices in attempts to increase purchases, not raise the price. Especially for this, I plan on getting a PS3, and I love MGS, but no way in hell will I waste even $1 on this 'limited' edition unit. Give me a plain old used system and upgrade the HDD myself, save like $200.
It's not inflation. Compare it to the price of the black models and look at drive size, and see why people think it's overpriced.
Sounds like a few marketing tools high on their own hype again.
Big deal - if you want the special color that comes bundled with some stuff, pay the extra price. If not, just go buy a regular one. What's the big deal? You're always going to pay more for a limited edition, and of course it's only because it's limited. What were people expecting?
I'm with you. It's no different than choosing to buy the 40gb or spending the extra 100 bucks for the 80gb. Life is not over if you only have 2 usb ports.
The big deal is they did not really give much incentive to buy one. Color may not sway too many people to pay more for less space. Unless you really MUST have this color. Sure you will be getting bragging rights for a limited edition, but only 40GB? At $200 more than the black 40GB. And it seems the 80GB is a better deal. Even if the color is limited, it doesn't seem worth it to many people.
I wonder if they'd done a 60GB version, would it have gotten better reception? I think it might have to some degree. JMO though.
Yeah....so if it doesn't seem worth it, then just don't buy it. What's the problem? I didn't think buying an Elite 360 was worth it, so I didn't. Problem solved.
I don't see what the big deal is about the BC. The 80 gig is not 100% BC. I would not dump my PS2 unless I got the 60 gig. I could care less about the HDD cause I would rather use Xbox live for downloading. Many people pay big money to be part of exclusive clubs and owning this system will be like being in an exclusive club.
As for them not being sold out probably has to do with the lack of people not knowing that this is exclusive through Konami. I just found out yesterday
looking around on the web. A Gamestop guy told me that their bundle had the 80gb unit and was gunmetal so I had been planning on getting one at a retailer. He was wrong.
My 60GB PS3 just crapped out with no power after 400 days of purchase. I was told by Sony that I would have to pay $150 to get the system repaired and receive an extended 90 day warranty. No exceptions.
Good luck to whoever buys this one. I did not expect to need Best Buy's extended warranty services on a PS3. I guess I'll be getting an XBox 360 with extended warranty.
If anyone needs a PS3 brick, add a comment.
That's great...but entirely irrelevant to this thread. I'm sure there are other places to whine about how your console died - yeah, it sucks, but do it somewhere appropriate.
Also, my Asus motherboard died a couple weeks ago and it was out of warranty so they said they wouldn't do anything. Does anyone want a bricked mobo?
Hi Dualboot:) I just read about the sad demise of your PS3:( But I am interested in your "brick". I have been experimenting with several different scratch removal chemicals, for all the various gadgets. And can not afford to buy a PS3 just to "try" my chemicals on:) So, if you are still open to getting rid of your ruined console, it sure would help me out?:) Sincerely, Jumo
Is it me, or does Sony always want to come up with a way for charging $600 for a PS3?
I was all over this, I love the gray, until I found out that it was 40GB at a calculated $120 premium, WTF is the point of selling a collector's Rip-off edition when they're also selling a MGS123 bundle for $30 and you can't play F***ing PS2 games on the Gray-Shitstation.
I might buy the 80GB PS3 MGS4 package, clearly the better value PS3 system.
Konami, don't treat your MGS fans like they're morons, I've played and own all.
For the Gray price I expect Otacon to send me emails and a pack of the cigarettes Snake smokes, and as many agree, for the case to be made out of METAL.
The problem with the way many of you are thinking is:
Many of us buying this Limited 40gb bundle DO NOT CARE ABOUT OVERALL VALUE, there is no denying the 80gb is an incredible deal. I can't speak for everyone, especially the scalpers, but I bought the limited bundle because I wanted it. BC keeps coming up along with the HDD, if you want this system you don't care about that. This isn't like comparing the standard 40gb to the standard 80gb, this shouldn't appeal to the casual person shopping for a PS3.
I always buy everything based on value, not cost. But every now and then I will buy something for the simple reason of, I wanted it.
Metal Gear on NES was my first "favorite" game (late 80's as a kid)
What isn't listed much about the PS3 Limited bundle or the MGS4 game is it's the 20th Anniversary of Metal Gear!
gunmetal gray gold?
har har har
Why would anyone buy this bundle, if it maybe came with a 120gb harddrive, and the memory reader i might could see a higher price tag
I don't mind the high price, but BC is an ABSOLUTE MUST for me. I'd rather buy the 80GB bundle and the limited edition game, then resell the regular game that's included on eBay or something. In the long run, I won't have spent considerably more, but it's the only way to get the LE and a 80GB PS3.
I really wanna get MGS4 but I've only ever played about 1/4 of MGS1 and so I don't know the story - what's the best way to catch up? I heard that MGS3 won't play on PS3, for exmaple, so I couldn't just play all the games ( I don't think )....
Any Ideas?
i have mgs3, and it plays just fine, although i do have the 60gb model with BC
Are you people all morons?
a) nobody is forcing you to buy this.
b) it's pretty much already sold out.
What's the big deal? Because it's anything to do with Sony, it's time to pick it apart and make a big deal out of it...
Like I said, morons...
It's value is what people will pay for it. It people want MGS PS3s enough to pay for it then the bundle must have been 'worth it' regardless of the cost.
When I first heard about this system, I was terribly interested. The paint job looked different in a good way, and I figured by the time the system was released in the US it would probably be bumped to an 80GB.
But after decided I'd do my best to get one... no information came out. I waited for weeks, reading blog.us.playsation.com (think that's the correct link) daily, looking for news. Much was promised, little was delivered.
Then finally, about 2 months later, the system is posted on the Konami.com web site. Listed as a pre-order, you had to wait until they made them available before you could actually put one in your cart. And then, the day they were supposed to be available... they didn't release them at midnight, or 9am, they waited until 1pm or so. I was never sure, as the site crashed and I never even had the chance to order one. As I understand it, this happened at least two days straight.
But I must admit, I was never serious about buying one after the original post on Konami. $600 for a $400 system and a $85 game? Let them sugar coat it anyway you like... but they are screwing you. If it was the 80GB backward compatible system, it would be a touch more reasonable. But given the trouble that system has playing PS2 games, I'm still not sure it would have been worth it.
They created artificial demand by making this system so limited, the real video gamers will never be able to afford it, or never have a chance to buy it. In the meantime, I'd sold one of my 60gb systems to buy this joke. Fortunately a buddy didn't take to it, he bought a HD-DVD/Blu-Ray combo player instead, and I got my 60gb back.
But however they justify their joke "deal"... I think they gave us the finger, and didn't bother to take our phone call and ask what we thought. Probably just as well, because as a gamer who buys games and systems to PLAY, and not to resell for double what I paid for it... I think the whole think F'n sucks.
For that extra price jump they couldn't have thrown in a 500GB hard drive (retail $80) or SOMETHING larger than a 3 year old laptop size HD?
It must be made out of recycled guns.
It's simple. If you don't feel like spending the extra for this special version... don't buy it.
Exactly!
It's simple supply and demand. It's only 10K units and there are plenty of fans(boys) out there that will pay that price.
I was going to buy one until I saw the price hike. I'll just wait a month until Konami gets stuck with overstock and finally drop the price, or the guys on ebay realize no one's going to pay even more for a different paint-job, and they're forced to sell it for a normal price.
That sounds like a plan, Konami drops the price or more likely you'll be able to snag one for $400 from a eBay sucker trying to get some of his money back. Konami should call it the "Limited European Edition" MGS4 bundle for Americans who want to know how it feels to be a European PS3 buyer - paying more for less.
The problem was that Konami didn't want to pay Sony more for making 10,000 80GB units for the North American market and decided to keep it simple/cheaper for them with the originally meant for Japan 40GB models. The Japanese don't have a superior 80GB/PS2 BC model that's also currently available to compare it to. The problem is we do. Now, even if the Konami LE PS3 was 80GB, you would still have some people complaining here about the extra 100 bucks they would have to spend for a "paint job". Many of us however would have pre-ordered it and it would definitely have been sold now by now. I just checked the Konami website, you can still pre-order it.
Now, I don't know if Konami has the balls to delay the release and give us a 80GB model in July for $599 or $649. They could give the Europeans those 40GB models since they're in the same boat as the Japanese. I think a lot of people would wait an extra month if it was technically possible to make 10,000 gray PS3s during that "delay". Maybe they could produce only 5,000 models. That's the only way they could possibly fix this. I doubt they will, but you never know.
Wait...it's not an 80GB? Well, screw that then.
edit - Many of us however would have pre-ordered it and it would definitely have been sold by now. I just checked the Konami website, you can still pre-order it.
Which country is getting this version???
I know in the US the bundle is the 80GB version, but it isn't gunmetal. Though it's only $499 and actually comes with the game.
This thing is only limited edition because the figured only 10,000 or so people would be fanboy enough to be suckered into this. This is nothing but taking advantage to fanboys to pad profit margins. Way to show your true colors $ony.
So . . . it's a limited edition paint job then? Sorry for the mix-up, Konami.
It costs £300 ($600) for the regular 40gb PS3 on its own here in the UK, so just be grateful you can can get the limited edition package including mgs4 for such a good price. Try living here, they even tax your thoughts...
Got my LE Gun Metal bundle on the 12th - THANK YOU KONAMI FOR SUCH AN AWESOME MACHINE!!!
The unit is f*&^ awesome. It has different colors/hues in different light - from steel to gun metal to a camo-greenish color. This was truly surprising considering it must have been done to be like Snake's new Octocamo!
And jesus f&*^^ christ is the PS3 QUIET! You will struggle to know it's on, I'm obviously used to the 360.
So far MGS4 is one of the most impressive games I've ever played - I definitely find myself thinking "this is true next generation".
I don't know why the hell you're all complaining,
I paid £300 ($600) for my 40GB PS3 here in the UK with no games included, and just 1 non DS controller.
It seems us Brits get so shafted and never complain about it, yet a special limited edition of the console, with a game included and a DS controller costs the same in the US as my baseline console in the UK and all you can do is bitch.
You got it so good in the US, if you're an MGS fan you'll pay for the higher production costs (which if u have any clue about economies of scale you'll understand why it is higher) and for its exclusivity.
just stop bitching already
Funny how these are STILL available for order on their site.
Yeah, I noticed the same thing. I almost bought two of them! When they were in high demand... One to use and one to keep sealed. I doubt they will ever sell unless they correct their flaws! This whole thing reminds me of the first run of the iPhones... Will Konami mail us $100 checks???
I'm not sure if anyone is still looking at this thread but I have to say I'm very very disappointed in paying $100 more for an inferior PS3! I could have saved $200 and bought the standard 40 gig system!
I was looking forward to having a PS3 will ALL the features of the 60 gig units since I was only able to purchase the 20 gig when they first came out! My wife and I waited outside of Best Buy for 2 days to get one! Only 26 total units were offered and we were customer 25! Of the 26, only 20 were the 60 gig systems!
So, it was a shock to try to open the memory card cover only to find out it did NOT have the memory card reader! I was also shocked to see 2 USB ports when my 20 gig PS3 has FOUR USB ports.
I really hope Konami offers something for us gamers that purchased the system to use ( feck all the ebay resellers ). Perhaps a second gun metal ps3 controller?
One thing that I was happy with...the Gun Metal System does not heat up near as much as my 20 Gig PS3. I had to buy a Nyko cooling fan so I would not start a fire on my entertainment center with the ps3 running! But the fan is soooo freaking noisy!
Ah well... I guess the saying of "you get what you pay for" did not apply for this purchase.