Sony Computer Entertainment Australia Announces Playstation 3 Starter Pack

[Shane]

SYDNEY, 20th July 2007 – Sony Computer Entertainment Australia (SCE Aust.) is pleased to announce the PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) Starter Pack, soon to be made available through Australian retailers. The Starter Pack will include the current 60 GB PLAYSTATION 3 console, two wireless SIXAXIS™ controllers, and a copy of Resistance: Fall Of Man™ and MotorStorm™, both million sellers globally and the number one and two top selling PS3 games to date in Australia. With a recommended retail price of $999.95, this fantastic offer will be available in stores from 2nd August 2007.

The Starter Pack follows recent news on the PLAYSTATION 3 sales success. According to market research group GfK, in excess of 59,000 units have been sold in Australia since the March 07 launch.

Rutland Smith, General Manager of Harvey Norman said, “PLAYSTATION 3 is very popular at Harvey Norman and has been selling large quantities in Harvey Norman stores. The new Starter Pack offer is great value and an opportunity for anyone that’s been considering a PLAYSTATION 3, to get on board now.”

Mr Smith continued, “Along with being an excellent games machine, PS3 offers a great deal more thanks to its Blu-Ray playback, built in HDMI and 60GB HDD, to name a few. During this very strong growth period for the category, PS3 is also driving the up take of other compatible digital products such as HD televisions, data storage devices, Blu-Ray movies and music.”

Michael Ephraim, Managing Director, SCE Australia and New Zealand commented, “We’re confident that the Starter Pack will continue the PLAYSTATION 3 sales momentum and success that it’s enjoyed since launch. Retailers have been very happy with the numbers to date and are excited about the prospect of this new offer.“

Mr Ephraim concluded, “There’s a huge line up of fantastic games exclusive to PLAYSTATION 3 launching in the next few months, including Heavenly Sword™, Ratchet And Clank: Tools Of Destruction™ and Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune™. These games take full advantage of the increased processing power that only the PLAYSTATION 3 can offer. When you consider the new Starter Pack added value offer and that the PLAYSTATION 3 is not just the best next generation games console, but also has a Blu-ray player and a fast developing PLAYSTATION®Network online, the outlook is extremely positive.”

[DjVu]

thousand dollars, see ya mate!

[punkass MoFo]

that good enough to get me to buy one- just need some better game releases first...

[Shane]

beats me why they didn't slip a blu-ray movie into that bundle.

[skin]

It still costs way too much. I'm not paying a grand for a new console. 500 bucks is steep!

[gta3freak_2001]

That makes it a bit more worth the cash, at least now you don't have to spend over a grand to get the console and a few games.

[E-Vader]

Thats more tempting but I'll still wait for a price drop.

[SPORTSFAN]

did they say at e3 that they were going to include rumble in their controllers or not?

still $1000 is still very expensive

[Tap Twist Snap]

Still too expensive but at least they are starting to do something. It's not really going to sell until they get the console under $700. Imports can be bought for $650 for the 80g and $550 for the 20. Do they think Aussies are crazy?

[bigjimmystyle]

I think its ok value, but seriously, I dont want the two controllers, and i certainly dont want two games of their choosing. id rather spend the $800 or so on the console itself, and buy my own games etc.

Dont they get that the $1000 pill is still a little hard to swallow?

[Dominus]

I think they *get* that people think the $1000 pricepoint is too hard for most to swallow, but they made their bed and now they have to lie in it. You saw the flak they copped after announcing a price-drop within the first 6-8 months, and how they then did backflips and flooded the intertron with enough PR chaff that people got confused about it to try and conceal the fact they wanted to drop the price.

The market is perception-heavy. If Sony slash their prices, then it says they lack confidence in their product, which in turn hurts sales and consumer confidence. Microsoft haven't dropped the price at all, and while the 360 may arguably be hardware you should have less confidence in (with all the failures), I'd lay money on people thinking the PS3 is on shakier ground as a platform.

So I'm glad they've decided to bundle it to make it more appealing. Sure, a price drop is what everyone wants, but Sony cannot feasibly do it without hurting themselves more, unless they're introducing a new model.

Personally, this time next year I may well have a PS3, once Home, Little Big Planet, Heavenly Sword, Drake, Folkssoul and any other decent exclusives have been released. Am I hoping the price will drop by then? Shit yes! But if it hasn't, I'd consider this bundle if the console has enough games to justify it.

[mr_bagel]

Hold it off until later this year and have a pack in with some better titles, HDMI and Component cables.
i Don't know why they didn't include Casino Royale in the bundle since earlier this year they were giving it away with PS3's

[Dominus]

Actually that is a really good point Bagel! I can't believe this so-called "high definition" console is still shipping with RCA!!! For the love of god at least include some component loving!

[Big Col]

Well for me atm playstation's biggest problem isn't the price (although it is a major one), it is the fact that there are only a handful of decent games out atm which you can count on one hand.

[Kurupt]

Originally Posted by SPORTSFAN

did they say at e3 that they were going to include rumble in their controllers or not?

still $1000 is still very expensive

They can't put rumble in it. The rumble feature would ---- up the SIXAXIS. All that vibrating makes the sensors go berserk.

[bigjimmystyle]

Originally Posted by Kurupt

They can't put rumble in it. The rumble feature would ---- up the SIXAXIS. All that vibrating makes the sensors go berserk.

the wii-mote seems to be able to handle rumble, why not the six axis?

[Dominus]

Originally Posted by Kurupt

They can't put rumble in it. The rumble feature would ---- up the SIXAXIS. All that vibrating makes the sensors go berserk.

That was, is, and always will be a steaming pile of Sony bullshit, dished out to cover for the fact they were sued six ways from sunday over their previous rumble device and its patent violations.

Not that anything Sony execs say are worth the virtual paper you read them on, but here's the latest ramblings:

http://kotaku.com/gaming/sevenaxis-c...ler-280374.php

[AshVsAOD]

Originally Posted by Kurupt

They can't put rumble in it. The rumble feature would ---- up the SIXAXIS. All that vibrating makes the sensors go berserk.

As Dom said. Wrong, the didn't due to legal action being taken against them. If i didn't already have a PS3 i would definitely get this pack.

I play my PS3 way more than I do my 360.

[MiNiStRy]

Drop it down to $600 with all those extras and i might buy one. Imo the biggest sore point for the ps3 is its lack of games and lack of rumble. I know they are releasing a new controller but what about all the people that got shafted with the old ones?

[Matt K]

Originally Posted by MiNiStRy

Drop it down to $600 with all those extras and i might buy one. Imo the biggest sore point for the ps3 is its lack of games and lack of rumble. I know they are releasing a new controller but what about all the people that got shafted with the old ones?

and online play IMO.

I cannot stand playing any games now without online mode.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by Matt K

and online play IMO.

I cannot stand playing any games now without online mode.

PS3 has online play....

[Paranoid666au]

The Starter Pack is missing something very important, some lubricating gel.

[Skooby]

Originally Posted by bigjimmystyle

I think its ok value, but seriously, I dont want the two controllers, and i certainly dont want two games of their choosing. id rather spend the $800 or so on the console itself, and buy my own games etc.

Dont they get that the $1000 pill is still a little hard to swallow?

That's basically the only games they have released. That's why you have no choice

[Darksheer]

I still think I'll import a US "Region A" model later this year. The region coding of bluray is really influencing my decision. I love being able to import cheap, region free HDDVDs, and being locked into "Region B" with the PS3 will make bluray movies quite expensive... and the delay of Region B releases will probably be annoying, too. So even if Sony did drop the price of their PS3 in Australia, I think I'd still have to import.

[Jamie]

As bigjimmystyle said, Im a little surprised that they didnt drop the price of the console instead of throwing all that in. People just dont want to spend a grand on a console. Cant say I blame them either.

[Kurupt]

Originally Posted by bigjimmystyle

the wii-mote seems to be able to handle rumble, why not the six axis?

The rumble in the controller is done by the sensor bar. The nunchuk doesn't have rumble because of teh gyroscope in it.

[Paranoid666au]

That doesn't make any sense. The Wii-mote has a gyrscope in it.

[Skooby]

Could this have something to do with what I said in the other thread about JB's pricing? JB said that the price would'nt drop until 2009. By making that statement (and I assume they got the info from Sony) they locked themselves into a promise as such. Not even 6 months later and the price is dropped in the US. Because of that comment though they can't drop the price in Australia (technically) but are making up the difference with a bundle.

[Paranoid666au]

But that means they couldn't drop the price till 2009. What kind of $1000 bundle will Sony have to compete with the 360 when it drops below $300 buy Christmas 2008!? They'll have to throw in a hooker or a free TV or something!

[mkurts]

Originally Posted by Paranoid666au

But that means they couldn't drop the price till 2009. What kind of $1000 bundle will Sony have to compete with the 360 when it drops below $300 buy Christmas 2008!? They'll have to throw in a hooker or a free TV or something!

They do that and I will definitely go pick one up.