I would find it highly amusing if Microsoft decided to release a GTA IV bundle as well. Seeing how the Xbox 360 20GB SKU is SEK 2695 (MSRP) and the game will cost SEK 599, seeing them drop a matching bundle at SEK 2995 and undercut Sony's price by a third. If nothing else then to push Sony to at least drop the extra "scandinavian fee".

I just hope that when I finally do buy my PS3, I will not have to pay more than needed. As it is now, I could probably take a car and drive all the way to Germany to get it cheaper. People in Denmark definitely should be able to at least...


...actually I know for a fact that I could not take a car and drive it to germany to get it cheaper... since I don't have a license.

@cduran01 It would be more accurate to say that 4495SEK equals $600 + sales tax, yes (25% in Sweden and everything from 17.5% and up to ur 25% in the rest of Europe).

This doesn't lessen Sony's overcharging in Scandinavia though. Where everybody else (not only consoles, but all electronics) charge 10SEK per Euro (current exchange rate is 9.37, so it's a good enough estimate to add for our higher than average sales tax), Sony takes 11.25SEK per Euro. This leaves them 12.5% higher than the competition and that's not really fair.

It's not that hard to understand why Scandinavia is one of the few regions in Europe where the 360 still is king though.

The Sixaxis is discontinued in the US at least, no word about Europe yet ;) Since it's not even released here yet, it would be highly foolish to have it discontinued.

It's not only the weak dollar though... the price in the US is about the same as in Japan, once you convert the Yens to dollars.

But the price in the scandinavian countries are 10-17% higher than the rest of Europe... (17% in Sweden with the current exchange rates) which is unique to Sony (the Xbox and Wii have a difference in price of about 6%).

That $755 is the standard price for a 40GB SKU without any game in Sweden... so basically that bundle would get us GTAIV for free.... and yes, it truly is that expensive here. Compared to the Xbox and Wii prices in the rest of Europe, Sony adds 12% more to the price than the other two once you cross a scandinavian border. I could get one Xbox core and one Xbox Arcade for the same money as the standard PS3 bundle.


Also, I unfortunately doubt this bundle will have DS3 bundled... Sony hasn't said a word about it here yet, and actually seem to be denying its eistance in the rest of the world.

@Phantom

More likely he found a way to open up the computer through a flaw in Safari alone, since if it was installing malware, the computer would ask the victim for permission to start a downloaded software... most probably requiring an administrator password as well.

I agree with the consensus that he must have had this prepared long before... set on winning those money and the MacBook Air. I guess the PC and Linux machines weren't as attractive ;)

They should have made an Accordion Hero with that design... or maybe Trumpet Hero... it would be awesome seeing people blowing into the Mic on the tram while holding their Wii like an instument AND trying to see the display. That would almost be less dorky than this.

I'm a huge fan of Guitar Hero/Rock Band... but the DS with a camcorder grip is no fake guitar...

Funny you should mention house phone as cheaper. For €7 a month I get 3000 minutes within my mobile network and to all landline phones. I don't even want to start thinking of how much money I save every month by not using my house phone to make all calls. As for texting instead of calling, at times you don't want to disturb the person you're texting by making them pick up the phone right there and then. In case they're busy, they can have a look at the text message at any time. Plus the text message will reach them even if they have their phone shut off for meetings/lectures and whatnot.

That being said I would probably not get close to 200 messages a normal month even if I wasn't allowed to make real calls.

There's a big difference to show a playable alpha build over shipping a full product. While parts of Spore has been in a playableish state since it was originally announced, EA haven't felt it has been polished enough to release yet. With a set release date of September thing should be pretty stable by now though and creating a quick playable build for an iPhone isn't that surprising... only the fact they did it under 2 weeks is.

While a silver PS3 supposedly would match the rest of my gear, I think I would go with a black one anyways... it looks more stylish. It's nice that Sony is giving people a choice though: Get a black one or move to Japan.