As we’ve seen from the recent generation of gaming, game players have become a fickle bunch of people. This has started fanboy wars that stalk many message boards, industry changes such as EA’s debacle with Battlefield: Bad Company (which they still pulled off by offering the same thing in a “Gold Edition” of the game…but that’s a whole other issue) and possibly shifts in pricing and market structure as we’ve seen with retailers and companies trying to find that “Golden Balance” of making the sale while also earning the cash.  With E3 right around the corner, this begs the question, does the PS3 need a price drop?

E3 rumors have already basically announced that the Xbox 360 will receive yet another price cut to match prices with the lowest cost Next gen system, the Nintendo Wii (say what you will about graphics and such, it’s taken a place in this generation of this systems and as such is “Next Gen” ok?). This has left a price difference of $150 between the 360 and Wii, and the PS3. Sony has “struggled” (or so fanboys and media would have you believe, the PS3 sales haven’t been that bad compared to the fact that the 360 launched one year earlier) this generation with getting people to buy their system since day 1 when they announced its initial launch price of $500 or $600.

Before you sign me off as a Sony fanboy, know that I have and enjoy both my 360 and my PS3. I won’t lie to you, I play more on my PS3 than I do my 360. This article isn’t about that at all though, the real question is does PS3 need a Price drop in order to appease the gamers that may, or may not buy the system. Let’s take a look at what we know.

The PS3 costs a pretty penny, and in my opinion, this is not without reason.  All PS3s come standard with at least a 40gb hard drive (you’re going to need a larger one for some of the ridiculous installs the system has been seeing), wireless (with the exception of the discontinued 20gb model) and a Blu-Ray disc player for your foray into HD movie land.  The Blu-Ray player included costs at least $300 for a standalone unit (Cheapest I found was on Amazon Here) and the PS3 has been hailed several times as the best Blu-ray player there is currently which would typically cost you more, so the highest end Blu-Ray player I could find was $1000. If you buy that one (shown here) I and many others, would think you a fool, so the more reasonable “high end” player was listed at about $500 (shown here), still an equal price to the PS3.  An average of the costs would make a Blu-Ray player a value of about $400. In a PS3 however, you get your Blu-Ray player (Best one on market for a lesser price of $100 than a more expensive “high end” model).  That means you are given a game system, a wireless connection and hard drive and basically no cost.  Many will argue that they don’t need wireless or Blu-Ray, all they want is games.  These are more than likely the same people that have VHS tapes and VCRs still in use.  Just like DVD, now that Blu-Ray has won the “format war” expect to see it forced upon the consumer eventually.  To those people I say you will want a Blu-Ray player in the even if not now (and do you not watch movies at home?).  With everything going HD, the time is now to get in while the equipment is being marketed to sell rather than to gouge.  Wireless, I completely understand.  Not everyone needs the feature at all, but for some of us it sure is nice to have.  An additional feature the PS3 has is free online play.  Yes we know it’s not as refined as Microsoft’s LIVE system but PSN does the trick for myself and many other gamers with no complaints (and some with many complaints as well).

The next issue that has many shouting “PRICE DROP!” is the “lack of games for the system.  A list complied (Note that I did not create this list) offers a list of coming and available exclusives.  Many are like me in that a coming exclusive title doesn’t exist until it’s announced and available.  Here is the picture:

As you can see, the Sony list is longer, but has more “Coming Soon” titles and a lot more info in the center (IGNORE IT! This is not a fanboy war).  By removing all titles not present the PS3 list is left with 12 games that are solid exclusives (2 notes not all exclusives are listed either, Lair is not present on the list and was not counted…and don’t start Lair bashing either, it’s a decent game that got a lot of hate.  Secondly, Sigma was not counted, neither was echochrome, GT5 Prologue, UT3 or the double Resistance).  The 360 side has a listed 16 exclusive games.  The coming soon lists however show a difference with the PS3 clocking in 11 games (Again, I didn’t count anything questionable such as the cancelled 8 says or the Team Ico project) while the 360 has 6.  Again, we all know that not all games are listed for each system and this must be an older chart for having 8 days present (and lacking Star Ocean and Infinite Discovery, both 360 exclusives).  The point is the same, the system has about as many exclusives posted even when you remove the ones typical fanboys count.  The systems have about the same amount of games coming as well.

So it’s not the games or the features that seem to be the downfall of the PS3.  In my opion it’s the marketing and PR that Sony really needs to work on.  I assume from past (and often mocked) statements that Sony’s PR policy reads as follows:

“The first person to reach the microphone at any event may speak on the topic.  No Sony employee is included from this rule, ranging from the delivery man to the CEO”

This would certainly explain why Sony reps have said some of the things we’ve heard them say.  They get so excited about being the first that is able to speak that they forget what should be disclosed and how and what should not be, what should be carefully handled and what should be touted as the best thing ever.  A prime example of this would be the former PS3 “price drop” that was in fact more of a clearance than a drop.  Sony PR could have smoothed the issue over by simply stating it up front but instead the “rumor” abounded until someone finally admitted it.  This pissed people off and rightfully so.  Had they just said Price drop on this model! Get it before they run out and we never make them again!” People that wanted the system, would have rushed the stores.  Those that were unsure would have been with them more than likely to assure they got one (and some of them would claim to want to return it and never would).  Which brings up the next point as well.

Sony needs to make people WANT it with their marketing and PR.  Consumers will buy anything at any price if they WANT it.  Here is where Sony has failed this generation.  They rely too much on brand loyalty and recognition instead of actively telling people that for $400, PS3 is a steal.  Literally, you’re ripping Sony off when you buy a PS3 for $400, as proven but their announcement of losses from PS3 sales.  Sony has failed to advertise that Blu-Ray is now here to stay and touted the PS3 as nearly the cheapest and often the best reviewed Blu-Ray player.  Most importantly, Sony has yet to really bring it’s A game to market and show everyone what the PS3 can really do, not in terms of gaming, but in terms of what you get right out of the box.

So does PS3 need a price drop?  No, I don’t think so, but a new Public Relations and Marketing Team would be a welcome addition.  What do you say?  Does PS3 need a Price Drop?  Leave your thoughts below.