Asda PS3 Price Drops ?

[1UPGamer]

Was reading the below this morning about Asda offering a PS3 80GB with 2 games for just £250. Not a bad price, do you think I should wait a little longer before picking one up or is this a limited offer as Asda seem to be saying.

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/35420/PS3-price-drops-begin

[fanpages]

Originally Posted by 1UPGamer

Was reading the below this morning about Asda offering a PS3 80GB with 2 games for just £250. Not a bad price, do you think I should wait a little longer before picking one up or is this a limited offer as Asda seem to be saying.

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/35420/PS3-price-drops-begin

As the article suggests, there are strong rumours that a cut in the Recommended Retail Price of the PS3 console across all territories will be announced today (18 August 2009) by Sony in a press conference at the "Gamescom" [* see below] event in Cologne.

This is presumed to be because later this year there will be a launch of a redesigned PS3 model; the "PS3 Slim". Although, some analysts predict that the release of this console (at the now current Recommended Retail Price) will not be until the end of 2009 to coincide with the availability of "Gran Turismo 5".

Asda's "limited" offer is either because all stocks need to be cleared before a cheaper price is announced.

However, as always, do not base any decision you make financially on rumour, hearsay, &/or speculation. That said, may I draw your attention to the falling price of the PS3 80Gb model...

PS3 80GB & Infamous £229.98 (£199.98+vat) instore @ makro

BFN,

fp.

* "Gamecon" is a new European trade fair for interactive games and entertainment organised by the Bundesverband Interaktive Unterhaltungssoftware (the German Federal Association of Interactive Entertainment Software) or "BIU" as they are known locally.

As well as major video game Companies (Activision, Electronic Arts, Nintendo, Microsoft, & Sony), more than 300 exhibitors from 25 countries will make presentations & unveil new products during the event that runs this week at the Cologne Trade Fair Centre (Köln Messe), in Cologne, Germany.

As I mentioned above, ahead of the five day event (19 August to 23 August 2009), Sony Computer Entertainment Europe will hold a press conference today (Tuesday 18 August 2009). This will be available (as a live video/audio streaming feed) within the online community-based service "PlayStation Home" (in an event space called the "Presentation Podium") . The conference will also be available to download from the PlayStation Store after the event.

Further details can be found at the official site for the convention:

[ http://www.gamescom-cologne.com ].

[fanpages]

Again from MCV.com...

Today at 12:13 pm
Kmart confirms ‘new PS3’
by Ben Parfitt
---
US retailer’s online portal seemingly confirms price cut to existing model and brand new redesign

The starkest indication yet that Sony is planning to both cut the price of the standard PS3 and announce a brand new Slim redesign has arrived courtesy of an ad currently running on the homepage of US retailer Kmart.

The ad, which is on rotation here (as spotted by Kotaku), boldly proclaims: “The rumours are a reality. New low price and a new exciting PlayStation 3.”

Clicking through, however, does not reveal any further details, with just three offers on the existing model listed.

Asda yesterday became the first UK retailer to slash the price of its PS3 stock, offering the Lachine and two of six games for just £250.

Today or tomorrow is likely to also bring some much-needed confirmation of Microsoft’s plans for Xbox 360, which could include both a price drop for the 360 Elite and a price rise for the 360 Arcade, as well as the end of the 360 Pro SKU.

Sony’s Gamescom press briefing takes place at 18:00 tonight – make sure you check back to MCV for all the news as it happens.
---

BFN,

fp.

[fanpages]

PS3 Slim to cost $300 and go on sale August 24th

A bundle of Sony news will break this afternoon, so keep your eyes glued to T3.com for the latest from GamesCom.

US retailers Kmart and Sears are expecting strongly-worded letters from Kaz Hirai's right-hand men after today's slip 'o the pixels, which saw the two retailers' websites put the pre-order up for the new PS3 Slim...several hours before it's due to be announced at GamesCom.

The pre-order listings claim the PS3 Slim will include a Blu-ray player, 120GB hard disk, DualShock3 controller, and HDMI output with 1080p support. The price looks set to be $299.99, and if the web editors aren't making fools of us all, it suggests a UK price of £182.

Knowing Sony however, they're bound to use their own patented foreign conversion rate, so we'd expect the price to fall in somewhere between £199 - £240. Currently the 80GB PS3 sells for $399.99, and the same console here in the UK is £299.99.

Regardless of the conversion rate quibbles, if the price of the PS3 Slim is lower than the 80GB PS3, it should be a good deal for any first-time buyers of the console. You'll be getting 40GB extra storage, the new sleek design (which shouldn't make shelves groan under the weight) and hopefully a few other surprises which shall be revealed in several hours' time. We'll have our breath held for additional USB ports, inbuilt card readers and better backwards compatability with PS2 titles.

It's now expected to hit shelves on the 24th of August, which is certainly earlier than first anticipated.

In addition to the PS3 Slim, it's also rumoured Sony might pull another bunny from the top hat at today's GamesCom expo - namely, a Beatles version of SingStar, to go on sale several days after Beatles Rock Band. MCV is reporting Sony might have an instrument-free version of the Beatles' Rock Band under the SingStar name, but in their usual fashion, Sony is denying all rumours so far.
---
BFN,

fp.

[fanpages]

Official word from the official (Sony PlayStation Community) "GamesCom" Blog:

"...the ps3 slim...

Available in stores from the first week of September...


...Same features and function. 120 gb drive 33 percent smaller, 36 percent lighter, it'll be 299".


However, contrary to the News.BBC.co.uk report:

Sony slims PlayStation 3 console
By Daniel Emery
Technology reporter, BBC News, Cologne
---
Electronics giant Sony has announced a new, slimmer version of its PlayStation 3 (PS3) games console.

The sleek machine is around a third lighter, a third slimmer and uses a third less power than the original, said Kaz Hirai of the firm.

Speaking at the Games Com conference in Cologne, Germany, he said the console would hit shops in early September.

It will also be around £50 cheaper than the original 2006 machine, costing £249.99 in the UK.

It will cost $299 in the US, 299 euros in Europe and 29980 yen in Japan.
---


BFN,

fp.

[1UPGamer]

Might be time for me to pick up a PS3... I know tekken 6 will be available on the Xbox but I just prefer the PS3 controller for Tekken so might have to buy it on that..... Any other games that are unique to the PS3 ? FP ?