PlayStation 3 launch
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The Japanese PlayStation 3 launch on 11 November 2006 marked the second major seventh generation video game console to be released (the first being the Xbox 360).
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[edit] NTSC Regions
[edit] Japan
The PlayStation 3 was launched in Japan on 11 November 2006 at 07:00. There were reports that many of the initial consoles were obtained by businessmen who paid mainly Chinese nationals to buy the console without any software to resell on eBay,[1] as a result of this there were more hardware units sold than there were games, Ridge Racer 7 was the highest selling game on launch day. 81,639 PS3 systems were sold in the 24-hours of its introduction in Japan. Sony has opted to go with an open pricing scheme for the 60 GB model, allowing retailers to set a price point themselves.
[edit] North America
The PlayStation 3 was launched in North America on 17 November 2006. Presales on eBay reached a high of just over US$3000 on November 17. During its first week of release in the United States, PlayStation 3 consoles were being sold on eBay upwards of $2000. The following day, no units were posted on eBay, none of them sold. It was originally announced that there would be 400,000 units available, however less than a week before launch reports emerged that Sony did not meet its shipping quota in time, resulting in about 40% of consoles not appearing at launch. It is not known exactly how many consoles were available on launch day.
As of 16 January 2007, nearly two months since the US launch, at least 1,000,000 consoles have been shipped to the US, and a further 1,000,000 have been shipped to Japan, plus more elsewhere in Asia.
[edit] North American launch titles
[edit] Singapore
The PS3 lauched in Singapore in March 2007, with the price of 60 GB announced as S$799, without games. Singapore, although using PAL for broadcasting, uses NTSC for gaming.
The 80GB model was released in Singapore in September 2007.
[edit] South Korea
The South Korean launch took place on 16 June 2007. The only version sold is the 80 GB version, equipped with IPTV.[2] This is the first time that the PlayStation 3 released with an 80 GB hard disk, and South Korea is currently one of the two regions with an 80 GB PlayStation 3 (the United States being other).
[edit] Mexico
PlayStation 3 20GB and 60GB models (NTSC-UC Zone 1) were released in Mexico in 2007. The 80GB model bundled with Formula One Championship Edition is now on sale in Mexico for $7,990 as well as a 40GB version with Formula One Championship and Ratchet and Clank Future Tools of Destruction for $6,990(MXN).[3][4] Local PS3 game standard price is $899 (MXN).[5]
[edit] PAL
[edit] Europe
Sony announced on 6 September 2006 that the PAL (European and Australian) launch had been delayed until March, 2007 due to a shortage of diodes used in the Blu-ray Disc drive. At midnight on January 24, 2007, Sony announced that the Playstation 3 would go on sale on March 23, 2007 in Europe, Australia, the Middle East, Africa and New Zealand.
Sony stated that there would be 1,000,000 PS3's in Europe for the launch period, including at least 220,000 in the UK.
The high launch price of the PS3 has been subjected to criticism from analysts, developers and consumers. Sony executive Phil Harrison has defended the price by citing its Blu-ray Disc support and overall value. The production cost is estimated to be US$805.85 for the 20 GB model and US$840.35 for the 60 GB model.
Sony announced that first party games would retail for £40/€60.
After the violence that occurred during the American launch, UK retailer GAME announced that it had cancelled its midnight launch and instead would launch at seven in the morning, providing a small breakfast for all people in line. HMV also opened with a morning launch after following the advice of the police. However, Virgin Megastore went ahead with a midnight launch, allowing customers to stay inside the premises rather than braving it in the cold.
According to Financial Times, PS3 sold 600,000 units in the first two days of its release in Europe.[6] It became the fastest-selling home console in the United Kingdom with 165,000 units sold in two days, and became the second-fastest-selling console in the UK overall, the fastest being the PlayStation Portable.[7] Some British retailers claim that the PS3 was subjected to as many as 20,000 pre-order cancellations,[8] while others cited a "huge demand" for the console.[9] Console sales for the following week were down 82%, selling 30,000 units, with a 60% drop in sales of the two most popular titles, MotorStorm and Resistance: Fall of Man.[10]
In continental Europe, Sony sold over 600,000 consoles in two days estimating that about €400 million revenue was generated by the hardware and software combined on opening weekend.[9] According to Sony, France PS3's sales were "around half of the UK, with Spain and Portugal slightly behind that. Germany, too, saw strong sales of around the 50-60,000 mark."[11]
Despite Sony asking retailers to wait until 23 March to sell the PS3, Italian retailer Datel started selling the PS3 earlier. Datel said in an ad that they would start selling on Wednesday 21 March. Sony's reaction was: "Sony Computer Entertainment Europe is deeply disappointed by the unilateral decision of some Italian retail chains to commence the sale of PlayStation 3 to consumers before this official launch date."
[edit] Australia
The 23 March 2007 midnight launch of the Australian PlayStation 3 console was considerably less impressive than expected by retailers and media alike. Media flocked to shopping centres and retailers expecting to catch a media extravaganza and flurry of activity as anticipated PlayStation 3 gamers were to buy their consoles. However, very little in the way of such activity occurred.
Around 2,000 people turned up at the Sydney CBD Myer store on Pitt St where Casino Royale was playing to entertain the crowds before the launch.[12]
Gamers and media arrived hours before the midnight launch period and were able to get front positions in what were small queues for the console. Several media outlets, including 2Day FM, asked the few gamers who did turn up to feign enthusiasm and excitement over the console, with a few media teams resorting to staging their own recordings.[13][14]
Over 27,000 units were sold over the course of the first ten days of sales and nine of the top ten best-selling games, including consoles and handheld, of the week were for the PS3; overall, software and hardware sales resulted in A$33 million netted for Sony.[15] One analyst called it "a spike in retail spending not previously witnessed at the launch of any other console in Australia".[16] In New Zealand, over 4,800 units were sold in the first week generating "over NZ$6.8 million dollars in hardware and software retail sales."[17]
[edit] Middle East
Sony Gulf announced that Jumbo Electronics and Carrefour stores in the Mall of the Emirates would open their doors at midnight on March 22, 2007 to sell the first PlayStation 3 in the UAE.
The PS3 retailed for AED2499, a price slightly less than Europe.
As an added incentive, the first 100 customers who bought a PlayStation 3 were rewarded with a pair of tickets to see Shakira live in concert at the Dubai Autodrome.[18]
[edit] India and Pakistan
The PS3 officially went on sale in India and Pakistan on 27 April 2007, priced at Rs39,990/$1000 for the 60 GB version, however imported units were available as early as December 2006 and were easily sold around $1,500. Games cost about US$60.80.
[edit] PAL launch titles
[edit] Release data and pricing
| Region | Price[19] | Colour System | Release Date | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 GB (Basic) | 40 GB | 60 GB (Premium) | 80 GB (Premium/IPTV) | |||||||||||
 Japan |
JPN | 49,980[20][19]6 | $465 | JPN | 39,980[19] | $372 | JPN | 59,9806 | $558 | TBC | NTSC-J | 11 November 2006 | ||
 Hong Kong |
HKD | 3,180[21] | $408 | HKD | 2,680 | $344 | HKD | 3,780[21] | $485 | TBC | NTSC-J | 17 November 2006 | ||
 Taiwan |
NTD | 14,980[22] | $468 | NTD | 11,480[23] | $359 | NTD | 17,980[22] | $562 | TBC | NTSC-J | |||
 United States |
USD | 499 | $499 | USD | 399 | $399[24] | USD | 5993 | $599[25] | USD | 5993 | $599[25] | NTSC | |
 Canada |
CAD | 549 | $546 | CAD | 399 | $397 | CAD | 549[26] | $546 | $499.99 | NTSC | |||
 Singapore |
SGD | 599 | $422 | SGD | 559 | $394 | SGD | 799[27][27] | $563 | $799 | NTSC-J[27] | 7 March 2007[27] | ||
 United Arab Emirates |
N/A2 | AED | $0 | AED | 2,200 | $599 | N/A2 | PAL[28] | 22 March 2007[28] | |||||
 Saudi Arabia |
N/A2 | SAR | $0 | SAR | 1,499 | $400 | N/A2 | PAL | ||||||
 United Kingdom |
N/A2,5 | GBP | 299[29] | $582 | GBP | 425 | $827 | N/A2 | PAL | 23 March 2007 | ||||
 Europe |
N/A2,5 | EUR | $0 | EUR | 599 | $868 | N/A2 | PAL | ||||||
 Australia |
N/A2,5 | AUD | 699.95[30] | $627 | AUD | 999.95 | $895 | N/A2 | PAL | |||||
 Croatia |
N/A2,5 | HRK | 3,190 | $620 | HRK | 4,777 | $951 | N/A2 | PAL | |||||
 Denmark |
N/A2,5 | DKK | $0 | DKK | 5,495 | $1,068 | N/A2 | PAL | ||||||
 Estonia |
N/A2 | EEK | $0 | EEK | 10,999 | $1,019 | N/A2 | PAL | ||||||
 Finland |
N/A2,5 | EUR | 479 | $694 | EUR | 650 | $942 | N/A2 | PAL | |||||
 Greece |
N/A2,5 | EUR | 399 | $578 | EUR | 659[31] | $955 | N/A2 | PAL | |||||
 Iceland |
N/A2 | ISK | $0 | ISK | 69.999 | $1,211 | N/A2 | PAL | ||||||
 Ireland |
N/A2,5 | EUR | $0 | EUR | 629.99 | $913 | N/A2 | PAL | ||||||
 Latvia |
N/A2 | LVL | $0 | LVL | 495 | $0 | N/A2 | PAL | ||||||
 New Zealand |
N/A2,5 | NZD | 799.95 | $630 | NZD | 1,199.95† | $945 | N/A2 | PAL | |||||
 Norway |
N/A2,5 | NOK | 3,999 | $721 | NOK | 5,995 | $1,081 | N/A2 | PAL | |||||
 Pakistan |
N/A2 | PKR | $0 | PKR | Rs 28,500 | $477 | N/A2 | PAL | ||||||
 Serbia |
N/A2 | RSD | $0 | RSD | 43,299 | $754 | N/A2 | PAL | ||||||
 South Africa |
N/A2 | ZAR | $0 | ZAR | 6,599.95 | $852 | N/A2 | PAL | ||||||
 Sweden |
N/A2,5 | SEK | $0 | SEK | 5,995 | $921 | N/A2 | PAL | ||||||
 Switzerland |
N/A2,5 | CHF | 569 | $543 | CHF | 799 | $724 | N/A2 | PAL | |||||
 Russia |
N/A2 | RUB | 15990 | $646 | RUB | 21990 | $888 | N/A2 | PAL | 20 April 2007[32] | ||||
 Turkey |
N/A2 | TRY | $0 | TRY | 1,499 | $1,243 | N/A2 | PAL | ||||||
 India |
N/A2 | INR | $0 | INR | 39990[33] | $1,011 | N/A2 | PAL | 27 April 2007[33] | |||||
 South Korea |
N/A1 | KRW | $0 | N/A1 | KRW | 518,000 | $550 | NTSC-J | 16 June 2007 | |||||
 Mexico |
TBC | MXN | $0 | TBC | MXN | 9,999 | $743 | NTSC | 20 August 2007[34][35] | |||||
Note 1: The 20 GB version of the system has been discontinued in the US as of April, 2007. Sony stated this was due to lack of consumer demand for this console configuration.
Note 2: Sony Computer Entertainment Europe president David Reeves has stated that there are currently no plans for an 80 GB console to be released in PAL territories, and that a 20 GB version is "highly unlikely".[36]
Note 3: Sony is no longer producing the 60 GB model of the PlayStation 3 for the US market. When all the product stock remaining is sold, the only available model of the PlayStation 3 in the US will be the 80 GB, $499, version of the console.[37]
Note 4: In July 2007, Sony announced a new retail configuration of the console for Europe. It will include all accessories and items with the 60 GB SKU, as well as the 60 GB unit itself, but will also include an extra wireless Sixaxis controller and the two bestselling first party games: Resistance: Fall of Man and MotorStorm. This new pack, called the "Starter Pack" will replace the 60 GB stand alone version, but will retail for the same price (EUR599, GB£425). In August 2007, the "Starter Pack" has been released in the UAE at AED2499.
Note 5: In October 2007, Sony announced a new version of the console for the United Kingdom, Europe, Middle-East and Australia/New Zealand with a 40GB hard-drive, 2 USB ports instead of 4, no card readers & PS2 backwards compatibility removed, but still PSone backwards compatible.[38]
Note 6: In January 2008, Sony announced to discontinue the 20 GB and 60 GB model of the PlayStation 3 for Japan market. [39]
[edit] References
- ^ Foreigners And Fights, PS3 JPN Launch's Dark Side. Kotaku (November 12, 2006). Retrieved on 2007-09-02.
- ^ PlayStation 3 (80 GB) Korean. Retrieved on 2007-05-23.
- ^ Sony Style Mexico
- ^ PlayStation 3 Mexico official website
- ^ Sony Style Mexico
- ^ "Sony’s PS3 has record launch in Europe", Financial Times, March 28, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-04-02.
- ^ "PlayStation 3 becomes UK's fastest-selling home console", GamesIndustry, March 26, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-04-02.
- ^ m-cancellations/ Sony PS3 hit by £10m in cancellations. BR (2007-03-27). Retrieved on 2007-03-29.
- ^ a b Sony's PS3 has record launch in Europe. Financial Times (2007-03-29). Retrieved on 2007-04-04.
- ^ PlayStation 3 hardware sales plummet 82 per cent, Gamesindustry.biz
- ^ PS3 Sells €400 Million Across Europe
- ^ "PS3 launches in Australia", The Sydney Morning Herald, March 23, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-09-02.
- ^ "Crowds go mild at PlayStation launch", CNET.com.au, March 23, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-09-02.
- ^ "Apathy dominates Australian PS3 launch", Australia's PAL Gaming Network, March 24, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-09-02.
- ^ PlayStation 3 generates $33m of sales in Australia (2007-04-05). Retrieved on 2007-04-09.
- ^ PlayStation 3 causes record retail spike in Australia. Gamesindustry.biz (2007-04-05). Retrieved on 2007-04-09.
- ^ NZ PS3 launch created unprecedented sales spike. Gameplanet (2007-04-11). Retrieved on 2007-04-10.
- ^ "PlayStation 3 Midnight Madness", Middle East Gamers, 21 March 2007. Retrieved on 2007-09-02.
- ^ a b c PS3 Launch Prices from around the world. PS3Rules.com. Retrieved on 2007-07-07.
- ^ Sony Computer Entertainment (2006-09-22). "PLAYSTATION3 HDD 20 GB EQUIPPED WITH HDMI AS STANDARD" (PDF). Press release. Retrieved on 2007-05-24.
- ^ a b Hong Kong Sony PlayStation site. Retrieved on 2006-11-01.
- ^ a b Taiwan Sony PlayStation site. Retrieved on 2006-11-01.
- ^ Taiwan 40GB price from official site. Retrieved on 2007-10-11.
- ^ Blu-ray.com - 40GB PS3 Goes Worldwide
- ^ a b Sony Confirms PS3 Price-Cut, 80GB Bundle. Kotaku (July 8, 2007). Retrieved on 2007-09-02.
- ^ Daily Tech - PS3 in Canada to Drop to $549, Same Price as Xbox 360 Elite. Retrieved on 2007-07-09.
- ^ a b c d Gameaxis (2006-12-18). "EXCLUSIVE! PlayStation 3 Official Singapore Launch Dated!". Press release. Retrieved on 2007-01-05.
- ^ a b PS3 launches in the UAE on 22 March 2007. AMEInfo (2007-03-05). Retrieved on 2007-06-12.
- ^ BBC NEWS | Technology | Sony offers cut-price PlayStation
- ^ No PS3 price cut for Australia. PSU.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-10.
- ^ PlayStation 3 to cost EUR 659 in Greece.
- ^ PLAYSTATION 3 Russia Official Launch on April 20
- ^ a b PLAYSTATION 3 India Official Launch on April 27.
- ^ Sony Mexico website
- ^ Release date in PlayStation 3 official website
- ^ Tom Ivan (2007-06-10). Reeves: No PAL 80GB PS3 Plans. Next-Gen.biz. Retrieved on 2007-06-12.
- ^ Tor Thorson (2007-07-13). Hirai: 60GB PS3 "no longer in production". GameSpot. Retrieved on 2007-07-13.
- ^ Sony offers cut-price PlayStation (2007-10-05). Retrieved on 2007-10-07.
- ^ SCEI TO DISCONTINUE SHIPMENT OF 20GB HDD AND 60GB HDD PLAYSTATION3 IN JAPAN (2008-01-10). Retrieved on 2008-01-12.
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