05-23-2006, 12:16 AM
>Conclusion: Come this fall when PS3 is released early adopters will, no doubt, rush out to purchase a PS3.
Sony's success is totally reliant on whether anyone else bothers to buy one. If you happen to be one of those early adopters and plan to purchase a PS3 at or around release, do yourself a favor and spend the extra 100$ to get the real system.
Well yeah, there will always be early adopters, bleeding edgers, or hardcore collectors who wouldn't blink twice to lay down extra cash for a (hypothetical), limited edition, digital camo skinned, personally signed by Hideo Kojima PS3 Complete package, with the mail in voucher for a Solid Snake plushie doll. A 100$ isn't a deal breaker for these people.
But as you suggest, they probably won't be the ones who will decide the success of this thing. From my own limited experience, most people I know would be willing to wait until they can pay around 150-300$ for a console. That's including whether or not it has other functions like a DVD player etc. New games, 60-70, up to a 100$ for a rare\limited editions\premium packaged games, otherwise 40- 50$ and under. I am not saying this as a hard fact, I am saying this is what I've seen generally in my little corner of North America.
I am curious to see if -any- console aside from this one http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neo-Geo could crack and stay above that 300$ ceiling, introductory price notwithstanding. At least with Neo-Geo it's theoretically possible to try out their games at the arcades for 25c.