Sony kicks Europe in the balls. More at 11!

[Atari Master]

This morning, I woke up and suddenly heard thousands apon thousands of people scream in anger. Confused, I woke up and jumped on my PC, only to find this.

 

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Announces New March 2007 date for European Launch of PLAYSTATION 3

No change in launch date for Japan and North America

 

London, Wednesday 6 September 2006 – Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) today announced that it would revise the launch date of its PLAYSTATION® 3 computer entertainment system in the PAL territories of Europe, Russia, Middle East, Africa and Australasia from 17th November 2006, as previously announced to March 2007.

 

Launch dates for Japan and North America will remain the same, which are November 11th and November 17th respectively.

 

The revision of the launch date in the SCEE territories is caused by the delay in the mass production schedule of the blue laser diode within the Sony Group, thus affecting the timely procurement of key components to be utilised in PLAYSTATION 3.

 

The previously announced PLAYSTATION 3 shipment forecast of 6 million units globally within the fiscal year ending 2007 is not changed.

 

But far fewer machines will be available for the launch dates in Japan and the U.S. because of the production problem, Kutaragi said.

 

In the U.S., about 400,000 PlayStation 3 machines will be available when they go on sale Nov. 17. About 100,000 will be available on the Nov. 11 Japan launch date.

 

Ouch...

[Pixelboy]

No surprise there. Everybody expected (and still expects) a shortage at launch. No wonder Sony doesn't have a problem with charging 600$ for it.

[Atari Master]

400,000 is the US according to the article. That pretty much IS a shortage if I've ever seen one. : /

[Atarifever]

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2000/08/04/so...station_2_euro/

http://www.ferrago.com/story/5097

 

What's new?

[AEX]

Thanks Sony!

 

Not that I was getting one this early anyway due to the sky-high price Mr Kutaragi!

 

The 360 looks like a good bet this christmas in Europe...

 

Karl

[n8littlefield]

That sucks for all involved, the shortage will only hurt gamers and help ebayers and is just another example of a gaming company treating European gamers poorly. Have they announced a European price tag yet to know if they are crapping on Europe monitarily as well?

[Atarifever]

Thanks Sony!

 

Not that I was getting one this early anyway due to the sky-high price Mr Kutaragi!

 

The 360 looks like a good bet this christmas in Europe...

 

Karl

Well, given that the 360 has Fifa all locked up through the holidays, and that the PS3 won't even exist in Europe, the 360 is reallly set to do well there this holiday season.

[Atari Master]

How about the Wii?

[Gabriel]

I'm trying to figure out why this is Sony "kicking Europe in the balls." It's not like it's the slightest bit unusual for Europe to get the latest game console late/last. It's the norm, not the exception. In fact, Sony (and previously Sega) had the best history of actually delivering their latest console to the EU the same year.

 

The N64 was delayed to the following March after the US release (September).

 

The GameCube was delayed until the following May after the US release (November).

 

The X-Box was delayed until the following March after the US release (November).

 

The PS1, PS2, and Dreamcast all hit Europe about a month after the US release. The Saturn did it in 2 months (and was still too early).

 

If it's "kicking Europeans in the balls" then folks across the pond should have learned to wear a cup by now.

[Atarifever]

I'd consider it a kick in the balls if Europe did get the PS3 earlier. Good for them that they get to enjoy the 360 and Wii together without unnecessary distractions. Buy a 360, try out the Wii, and then pretty much realize it doesn't matter if the PS3 hits at all.

 

Alternatively, the Wii won't be there either, so get a 360 and be happy.

Edited September 6, 2006 by Atarifever

[Atari Master]

It's a kick in the balls because they've been lead to believe that everything was going just fine. Hell, they even had commercials for the PS3 before today.

 

Then BAM. Delay for 5 months.

 

Kind of a kick in the face, IMO.

[n8littlefield]

If I were Sony - I'd just delay the US launch too and give the 500,000 consoles in total to Japan. Afterall, that's where Nintendo has the biggest chance to overtake them, why give them such a huge headstart.

 

If Sony comes out of this generation in 1st place again, it will be because someone upstairs loves them, I don't think they could have messed the PS3 launch up any worse than they already have!

[+legeek]

Not to mention that the total launch allocation is 500,000. That's 1/3rd of the launch units the 360 had. And that's the TARGET number...

 

Sony is having a rough year...

 

-Ben

[AtariJr]

Wait a minute... I thought Sony said 6 million units at launch.. not the first fiscal year, am I mistaken?

[+legeek]

Wait a minute... I thought Sony said 6 million units at launch.. not the first fiscal year, am I mistaken?

 

I believe it was 2 mil at launch 4 mil by end of 2006 and 6 mil by end of fiscal year...

[Atari Master]

Eh, they're only missing their launch by 1600 consoles. *rolls eyes*

 

And my God Moycon, you've become a fanboy since I was gone!

 

NOOOOOOOOOO!!!

 

I keed, I keed.

[8th lutz]

This is a big mistake by sony.

 

I think the amount of ps 3 shipped at launch in Japan will hurt sony for the long run. The Wii could get a bigger market share due to this if nintendo plays their cards right. Japan has been more into the ds then the psp and games like their Brain Training games show it. I don't think the next Final Fantasy game wil be enough over there to pass the Wii in sales.

 

In america, it could help the 360, but for long time, that is a big if. The wii is not really threat in America, so if may not help the wii a lot.

 

This could hurt sony for the long run for Europe. Europe is the wild card in the next generation of gaming. I see people in Europe buy a wii and a 360 if microsoft has a strong line up of games for the holidays and same thing for Wii.

[Bill Brasky]

Germany likes being kicked in the balls, with high heels.

[sega saturn x]

The 360 looks like a good bet this christmas in Europe...

Looks good in the U.s too if you ask me.

[Ze_ro]

If I were Sony - I'd just delay the US launch too and give the 500,000 consoles in total to Japan. Afterall, that's where Nintendo has the biggest chance to overtake them, why give them such a huge headstart.

That's what I was thinking too... 400,000 units in all of North America is basically nothing. Missing the holiday season in North America would be a huge PR blow (especially after the snow job Sony's PR department has been giving us), but 400k is barely even a launch at all. This mess might just serve to alienate MORE customers than delaying the launch entirely.... not to mention game developers.

 

Not to mention that the total launch allocation is 500,000. That's 1/3rd of the launch units the 360 had. And that's the TARGET number...

And we all know how well the 360's launch went... I don't know about where you live, but it was essentially impossible to find a console here until about March.

 

--Zero

[jetset]

So then Sony it up to its old tricks. They pulled this "shortage" crap with the PS2 at its launch. Although it apprarently didnt hurt them I wouldnt buy one because of the stunt they pulled with the fake shortage. MS pulled the same thing with the 360 and thats part of why I didnt buy a 360 either.

I guess both companies dont give 2 craps about thier base and will use any tactic to hype thier system. Hopefully Nintendo doesn't pull this same stunt.

[darklord1977]

400,000 is the US according to the article. That pretty much IS a shortage if I've ever seen one. : /

did we expect anything less from sony??

[shadow460]

Sony messes up again.

 

Now you know the rest of the story.

[Atari Master]

I think you guys are going to be surprised at the Wii's popularity. I go to a variety of different message boards. And thus far, people either want a Wii, or a Wii AND another console.

 

It's pretty crazy.

[moycon]

So then Sony it up to its old tricks. They pulled this "shortage" crap with the PS2 at its launch. Although it apprarently didnt hurt them I wouldnt buy one because of the stunt they pulled with the fake shortage. MS pulled the same thing with the 360 and thats part of why I didnt buy a 360 either.

I guess both companies dont give 2 craps about thier base and will use any tactic to hype thier system. Hopefully Nintendo doesn't pull this same stunt.

 

The 360 couldn't be manufactured fast enough because the chips Microsoft had bought from Infineon Technologies weren't being delivered as promised, similar to the problems Sony had with their in-house production of chips. Explain why again would a company want to purposely not get their product in the consumers hands?? To help out eBay users maybe, or no...so they can sell less software that Xmas season?? LOL

 

Honestly it was determined the fabricated shortage theory was started by Berf Merfrod (AKA: I_LUV_Koopas) from Cleaveland Ohio....age 13. He posted it to the EvrythingInTheWorldSucksAssButNintendo.com forum. I'm suprised anyone subscribed to that nonsense.

 

I don't think this would be (or really is) a huge deal. Europe seems to get videogames later than the rest of the world. For instance. We here in the US have been playing Dead Rising for a month...It doesn't even come out in Europe for another couple days. It does suck that back in March, Sony's Ken Kutaragi stated Sony would launch the Playstation 3 Worldwide in November.

Edited September 7, 2006 by moycon