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PS3 Slim already sold out at many a retail store
The fine folks at GameSpot called around in San Francisco to find that many of their local GameStops and Best Buys have been selling the PS3 Slim, but some have already sold out of their first shipments. Our own calls to a few New York GameStops showed that they'd sold out of their first shipments as well (so much for that September 1 ship date, huh?) and were expecting their next shipment early next week. We also know plenty of folks who've had no trouble scoring one online, but who knows how long that supply will last. How about you, any luck tracking down this not-so-elusive console? Personally, we're still waiting on the go-ahead from our main man Kevin Butler to believe any of this is true. [Via PC World] %Poll-33865%
250 GB 'Super Elite' 360 spotted in South Africa too
Now that the prices have been slashed on the Xbox 360 Elite, it would seem that the "Super Elite" is rising to take its pricey place. After yesterday's reveal of the 250GB beast on Amazon Germany, XboxGaming.co.za is reporting that the "Super Elite" console (with two wireless controllers and a copy of Forza 3) has been confirmed by local distributors as coming to South Africa, this October, for R4,999 ($644). XG's report also included an ad from local retailer BT Games, which touts a standard Super Elite bundle for R4699. The recently ordained South African distributor, Comztek, noted that HD cables would not be included in the box. Presumably, they're being saved for the Super Duper Elite.
Sony's new PS3 Slim ads prove it 'gets' the internet
We have to hand it to Sony, they've followed up nicely on their "worst kept secret" trade show jokes with an ad campaign that is fittingly self aware. Our only gripe? That cheap shot at Bernie Buncalan -- his blog is pretty good. We also packed in another video after the break. Enjoy.
PlayStation 3 Slim review
Even before Sony's big unveil earlier this month at Cologne GamesCom, it felt like we already knew the PlayStation 3 Slim quite intimately. A leak from back in May gave us a glimpse of every angle of the hardware's exterior, and even the final retail box. At that point, we didn't know what to make of it, and the change in logo font definitely threw us off. Three months, thirty seconds of video, and a dash of legal paperwork later, and we're looking at that very same leaked device, now taking up space adjacent to our hefty 60GB "Classic" model from launch day. Unquestionably, it's smaller and lighter, but how else has Sony's Blu-ray-playing console evolved -- or regressed -- over these past few years? Read on to find out!
North American PS3 Slim ad campaign 'Does Everything'
While definitely not as unsettling as the Japanese "Play Face" advertising campaign, or as costly as the £82 million European marketing push, the recently revealed PS3 Slim ad campaign for North America possesses something unique for the world of video game promotion -- actual humor. PlayStation.Blog revealed the first two television spots for the western hemisphere's "It Only Does Everything" campaign. The first, featuring a startling Jonah Hill lookalike, is posted above. The second is embedded after the jump. We'd like to extend a big round of applause to Sony's marketing team. Congrats guys! You've finally managed to market Sony's gaming hardware in a manner that makes a freaking lick of sense. %Gallery-70349%
Square president doesn't expect 'big impact' from PS3 price cut until 2010
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Square Enix president Yoichi Wada offered a reserved but hopeful response to Sony's recent PlayStation 3 redesign and accompanying price drop. "In terms of the impact (the PS3 cut) will have on this financial year's earnings, I don't think there will be a major difference," he told Reuters. "But I expect there to be a big impact from next year." If that seems like oddly hesitant approval, it's because Square Enix has been oddly hesitant in producing PlayStation 3 content up until now, instead placing its eggs in other, distinctly portable baskets. The company's first big hit on Sony's console looks to be derived from its purchase of Eidos, which netted the critically acclaimed Batman: Arkham Asylum, and Final Fantasy XIII isn't due to arrive in Japan until the end of the year. While Square Enix has forecast a doubling in operating profit within the current fiscal year -- ending next March -- it seems prudent of Wada to hold off on financial celebration until the effects of a cheaper PlayStation become apparent and Final Fantasy XIII's reach extends beyond Japan.[Via Edge Online]
PS3 Slim 'Play Face' ads invade Shibuya Station
Sony's marketing gurus are pulling out all the stops to make sure people hear about their newly emaciated console -- in Japan, they're even making special efforts to totally creep people out as they do so. The "Play Face" campaign has expanded beyond the realm of bizarre television advertisements, and landed squarely on the walls of Tokyo's super-busy Shibuya station. Japanese tech blog AndriaSang captured the haunting sight, seen in the image above. We briefly considered sending in our own countenance to the Play Face campaign's website, but we're not sure that our current look of complete and utter confusion would help sell any hardware. [Image]
How to explode your brand new PS3 Slim
If you're prone to falling under spells where all you want to do is dismantle your (slightly less) expensive pieces of technology, DIY site IFixIt recently posted a comprehensive manual on how to take the PS3 Slim completely apart. We suppose this article serves three important purposes: It gives a good look at the guts of Sony's new streamlined hardware. It gives modders instructions on how to prepare their consoles for Frankenstein-ation. It teaches Xbox fanboys how to obliterate the PS3 Slim in a showy, $300 act of protest. We hope said article is only used for the first two reasons, but history has taught us that we live in an entirely senseless, illogical world.
Rumor: Best Buy offering new PS3 buyers a free game to discourage Slim trade-ins
In order to dissuade recent PS3 buyers from returning their systems in exchange for newer, slimmer ones, Best Buy is reportedly offering a free game to customers who come in for such an exchange. According to our tipster, who snapped the picture above (Kotaku also claims to have verified the story), Best Buy sent out an internal memo instructing employees to try to convince customers not to return their recent purchases for Slims with the offer of a free copy of either inFamous, Killzone 2, or MLB 09. The memo also states that there is no official "street date" for the system, so it could be out on the shelf already. Is a free game sufficient salve for the burn of just missing out on a Slim? Or will irate customers with valid receipts ignore the offer entirely in pursuit of a less monolithic console? If you are in the position of having just bought a PS3, do let us know if this sends you scrambling back to Best Buy in search of some kind of better buy. And if you're a high-level Sony executive, don't (try to) hide your immediate plans from your consumers. As it turns out, people like being informed about the things they're planning to buy. Nobody would have bought a PS3 in the last couple of weeks if we had known about the Slim, and there wouldn't be any emergency programs like this as a result of it. %Gallery-70349%
PS3 Slim gets torn asunder
If you're wanting some quality analysis of what's under the PlayStation 3 Slim's hood, you're still gonna have to wait for that. However, if you're the sort that just needs to see hardware broken down into as many simple pieces as possible, boy have we got some pictures for you. Update: The results are in and well, there isn't a lot of excitement to show for it except for maybe the large 17-blade fan that stretches 95mm in diameter. There's also a video slideshow of the process, seen after the break. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in!] Read - Tech Powerup forum Read - iFixit teardown Read - Rapid Repair teardown
PS3 Slim popping up all over the US (update: it's officially on sale)
Since we first heard about Florida going Slim with its PS3s, we've gotten numerous reports abut the console showing up on retail shelves in Best Buys and GameStops across these 48 contiguous states. We've also heard whispers that brick-and-mortar Sony Style locations are getting shipments and will be unleashing to the masses soon after -- not to mention Amazon's still promising at least some deliveries for tomorrow. Our calls to Sony haven't been returned yet, but it seems like the release date now is more or less "as soon as your local electronics store gets a shipment." Another shot of the boxes in the wild after the break, and let us know below if and where you've managed to spot one! Update: We just got confirmation from Sony that retail stores are being told they can sell the Slim as soon as they receive it. Now let's see how the the 160GB PS3 classic fares with its slender counterpart sharing price point and shelf space. [Thanks to everyone who sent these in!]
Sony's Andrew House hints at more social networking for PS3
PlayStation Home not "social" enough for you? Fret not PS3 users (or soon-to-be PS3 users), 'cause Sony Computer Entertainment Europe head Andrew House has recently dropped a not so subtle hint that some more traditional social network features are on their way to the console. While he obviously didn't get too specific, House did tell the Financial Times that Sony has plans for more social networking features, and apparently wouldn't rule out a partnership with "popular sites such as Facebook," much like Microsoft has already announced for the Xbox 360. In PS3 price-cut news, House also noted that Sony is indeed aware that "consumers are watching their euros and pounds more carefully than before," but added that "it would not be fair to say this is a reaction to current market conditions." [Via Joystiq]
Sony PS3 Slim turns up at Florida Best Buy
What do we have here, you ask? Why, it's the Sony PS3 Slim, and it's available for purchase at this here Best Buy in Brandon, Florida -- a full day before Amazon ships ours. And you said you'd never go back to Brandon! A reader picked one up along with Arkham Asylum, and was good enough to share his haul with us (and with the world) via the Twitter. If you're in the area, you might want to make a quick trip out to the box store before the global PS3 Slim shortage hits. More photographic evidence after the break. [Via Raymond]
Hirai: PS3 Slim sold at a loss, but business profitable overall
Speaking to the UK's Times Online during last week's GamesCom event, Sony boss Kaz Hirai provided some insight into the ramifications following the introduction of the smaller, cheaper PS3 Slim. Hirai noted that while the system itself would be sold at a loss, it would be buoyed by other elements of the PlayStation platform."If you look at the growth of the installed base, it is slower than the PS2 was but it's pretty much on track with the growth that we had with the original PlayStation," Hirai said. Responding to the issue of selling the redesigned PS3 at a loss, Hirai explained, "I don't actually know that that's the true nature of the business that we're all in, whether it's PlayStation, Xbox or the Wii. I think the better indicator is to look at the business as a whole platform, to ask: are you profitable in terms of the hardware, software and peripherals. And the answer to that question is yes on a gross profit level since the last fiscal year." If Sony's price-cutting measures have their intended effect and lift the whole PlayStation platform, Hirai might just be in a position next year to boast about profits so plentiful ... it's gross.[Via Edge]
PS3 Slim hardware still losing money
The Times Online had a sit-down with Sony Computer Entertainment boss, Kaz Hirai, after the big Gamescom show last week in Cologne. You remember, the event that saw the official launch of the PS3 Slim. The Q&A is an interesting read in whole, but the answer that stands out comes in response to a question about whether the lower-priced $299 PS3 Slim will be sold at a loss relative to its cost to manufacture. "Yes," was the quick answer from Kaz. That's a surprise for two reasons. First, the PS3 Slim benefits from more efficient 45-nm manufacturing processes used on its smaller, less power-hungry Cell processor. Also, just last month Sony's CFO told investors that manufacturing costs of the PS3 had dropped by "about 70%, roughly speaking" -- that comes to about $240 based on original manufacturing estimates of $800 when the PS3 launched back in 2006. Regardless, a console being sold as a loss-leader is nothing new in the gaming industry and, as Kaz points out, will almost certainly be offset by looking at the PS3 as a platform that includes the hardware, software, peripherals, and services.[Via GamesIndustry.biz]
NPD expects PS3 sales to jump 40-60% post-price cut
It doesn't take a whole lot of analysis to figure out that a $100 price cut will result in a boost in sales, but market research group NPD seems to think that the PS3's new $299 price point could have a particularly big impact on Sony's numbers once next month's sales are tallied up. While it's obviously not a sure thing, NPD expects sales of the PS3 to jump between 40% and 60% over the course of September, noting that "the USD 299 price point is important to getting to a point where the next segment of price-conscious consumers can jump into the market and it most certainly will re-energise sales of the platform." It's also quick to point out, however, that those sales might not be enough for Sony to take the lead in US console sales for the month, adding that "other systems might too take a price cut," and that "content is still the key motivator of a hardware purchase decision." Update: Joystiq offers a clarification from the original quote that, historically, price cuts tend to lead to a 40 to 60 percent increase in sales over the previous, higher priced month. The group is not specifically predicting PS3's sales, just pointing out what's happened in the past -- it's a subtle but important difference. [Via gamesindustry.biz]
NPD: 40-60% sales increase projection for PS3 was misquoted
Last week, IndustryGamers quoted an InformationWeek article on post price-drop PS3 sales forecasts ... which just so happens to have misquoted NPD. According to the former, the number-cruncher of video game sales told the latter that, "based on history, price cuts tend to increase month-over-month unit sales in the 40%-60% range," which ended up as, "We would expect to see in the range of a 40% to 60% unit sales increase when September sales are reported." If you read InformationWeek's version of what NPD said, it sounds like, once September's sales numbers come in, PS3 will have sold 40 to 60 percent more than it did in August. The original quote, though, indicates that based on past price drops, it's seen console sales increase by that amount -- though it wasn't saying that would necessarily be the case with PS3.We're not exactly sure how quote No. 1 became quote No. 2 -- they're just a tad different, as you can see -- so we've contacted NPD to get its actual projections for $299 PS3 sales. (Which we promise to quote accurately.)
Video: PS3 Slim's Japanese commercials likely to cause fear, distress, and confusion
The folks at Palm may think they've learned how to make some creepy commercials, but let's face it, they've got nothing on Sony. The Japanese company has a long history of discomforting, unexplainable advertising that rivals a David Lynch movie -- in fact, Lynch even directed his own television spot back in the PlayStation 2 days, itself reminiscent of UNKLE's "Rabbit in Your Headlights" music video from years before. This latest set of videos for the PS3 Slim in Japan is no exception. Turn off all the lights, raise the volume of your speakers, and bow down before the masters of unnerving gadget promotion just after the break -- we included the Lynch ad, too, in case you were interested.
Watch Japan's unsettling PS3 Slim commercials
OK, we know that saying Japanese TV commercials are "weird" isn't exactly revelatory, so how about this: Sony's new "Playface" ads for the slimline PS3 are really, truly, disturbingly weird. Yes, perhaps even more odd than Sony Computer Entertainment Europe's "The Third Place" ads for PS2 directed by David Lynch.If this is what we really, truly look like when playing PS3, we're unplugging our PS Eyes immediately and checking for hidden closed-circuit surveillance. Who knows -- we could be next; clicking, shaking and generally acting creepy in a Sony ad without even knowing it.Genius or madness? You decide.[Thanks, Johnnynumber5!]
Sony: PS3 price cut not due to 'market conditions,' more social networking features on the way
Though the world economy is crumbling faster than a three-year-old sugar cookie lying on the floor of a jam-packed mosh pit, the recent cheapening of the PS3 shouldn't be attributed to current market conditions. Don't believe us? Perhaps you'll pay heed to the words of SCEE president Andrew House, who explained, "We are aware that consumers are watching their euros and pounds more carefully than before," but later added, "it would not be fair to say [the PS3 price cut] is a reaction to current market conditions." See? We told you.This quote came in the middle of an interview with Financial Times -- an interview in which House would later mention that Sony is planning on implementing additional "social networking features" into the platform. Financial Times' write-up mentions a possible "tie-up with popular sites such as Facebook," but heck -- we'd be content with just being able to, y'know, talk to each other regardless of what games we're playing.[Via Edge Online]
