I think its obvious that the PS3 will sell. I started thinking about this though...with the $500-600 price tag will Sony lose out on the impulse buy consumer? I mean the guy who plays it at his friend's house and doesn't really care too much about owning a console. He sees a PS2 for $130 and buys one on the spot. We could assume that the PS3 will drop in price but so will the other consoles. So do you think Sony is already losing out on a piece of the market? Thoughts?
Will the PS3 lose the impulse buy crowd?
- Thread starter jkam
- Start date
rodeojones903
CAGiversary!
- Feedback
- 81 (100%)
People thought the same thing about the 360, which seems to be doing just fine. The impulse crowd will lean more towards the $500 model, which by no means is cheap it is reasonable for everything you get in the system.
mrchainsaw
CAGiversary!
- Feedback
- 14 (100%)
I don't know about anyone else but I don't know anyone that would spend $500-600 on an impulse. Actually I don't know too many people that would spend that kind of money on anything that isn't necessary.
When they're in stock? Maybe. For me, $500 is WAY more than I can afford for an impulse (heck, a $7 clearance gaem is sometimes stretching it 
), but at least the "lower end" model isn't nearly as crippled as the low-end 360, so the $500 isn't a total waste of money as I view the $300 360.
), but at least the "lower end" model isn't nearly as crippled as the low-end 360, so the $500 isn't a total waste of money as I view the $300 360.
I don't think any console, unless less than $100 really applies to the impulse buying crowd. Unless I just happen to have a couple hundred dollars in my pocket that I must spend, I'm not going to just walk into a store and spend over $100 on something I don't need just like that.
blandstalker
CAGiversary!
- Feedback
- 21 (100%)
[quote name='whoknows']I don't think any console, unless less than $100 really applies to the impulse buying crowd. Unless I just happen to have a couple hundred dollars in my pocket that I must spend, I'm not going to just walk into a store and spend over $100 on something I don't need just like that.[/quote]
I don't think very many people do. "Impulse buy" is probably the wrong term here.
There seem to be three or so levels of buying when it comes to consoles.
There's when it's new, which has typically ranged from $200-$400. This is the price point for video game enthusiasts.
Then there's the first drop, to the sub-$200 price point. This is when most people who like videogames but aren't ape
over them will buy.
Then there's the mass-market penetration point. This is historically $129-$150. Closest perhaps to "impulse buy". It's the price point where all the people who thought it was too expensive before will finally give in.
In any case, this is years down the line for PS3 and even XBOX 360. So I guess the answer to the question is "yes", but that's not the target market now anyhow, and won't be for some time.
I don't think very many people do. "Impulse buy" is probably the wrong term here.
There seem to be three or so levels of buying when it comes to consoles.
There's when it's new, which has typically ranged from $200-$400. This is the price point for video game enthusiasts.
Then there's the first drop, to the sub-$200 price point. This is when most people who like videogames but aren't ape
over them will buy.Then there's the mass-market penetration point. This is historically $129-$150. Closest perhaps to "impulse buy". It's the price point where all the people who thought it was too expensive before will finally give in.
In any case, this is years down the line for PS3 and even XBOX 360. So I guess the answer to the question is "yes", but that's not the target market now anyhow, and won't be for some time.
White-Wolf
CAGiversary!
I dont think the ps3 will be like the ps2. While it will sell out with hardcore gamers, i dont think it will sell very well with other people unless blue ray kicks off. If it cant sell beyond the hardcore gamer though, the ps3 will flop in my opinion.
Nope, the impulse crowd will still buy it... when the thing is sold out everywhere, and Joe Schmo walks into a Target and sees 1 available, he'll buy it just because he knows how hard it is to find and because he loved the demo / friends system and know everyone will be over to play it.
PS3 is like one of those status symbol things.
PS3 is like one of those status symbol things.
willardhaven
CAGiversary!
- Feedback
- 12 (100%)
People who buy 5,000 dollar sound systems and 10,000 dollar tvs will have no problem dropping 600 dollars.
PS3 is a system for "grown-ups", Sony isn't out to get us "core" gamers this time.
Honestly, I'm psyched to get to play one at work today on the kiosk, I think now that the actual systems are hitting, we will see who is on top of their game... terrible pun not intended.
EDIT: seriously, how is it a status symbol? It plays blu-rays for cheaper and has the greatest graphical and storage potential of the three consoles...
PS3 is a system for "grown-ups", Sony isn't out to get us "core" gamers this time.
Honestly, I'm psyched to get to play one at work today on the kiosk, I think now that the actual systems are hitting, we will see who is on top of their game... terrible pun not intended.
EDIT: seriously, how is it a status symbol? It plays blu-rays for cheaper and has the greatest graphical and storage potential of the three consoles...
White-Wolf
CAGiversary!
I dont think the 360 has sold well. ps2 has sold over 100 million units, while the xbox 360 has sold about 5 million. I think even if the ps3 does poor, the ps2 will still save them. Although i dont know if they will beable to recover from the amount the spend on blue ray and cell.
White-Wolf
CAGiversary!
[quote name='willardhaven']People who buy 5,000 dollar sound systems and 10,000 dollar tvs will have no problem dropping 600 dollars.
PS3 is a system for "grown-ups", Sony isn't out to get us "core" gamers this time.
Honestly, I'm psyched to get to play one at work today on the kiosk, I think now that the actual systems are hitting, we will see who is on top of their game... terrible pun not intended.
EDIT: seriously, how is it a status symbol? It plays blu-rays for cheaper and has the greatest graphical and storage potential of the three consoles...[/quote]
The diffrence is, with a widescreen tv, the profit is made on the sale of the tv. sony wont make a profit becuse the ps3 coasts more money to make then they are selling it at. They hope to make all thier money back in blue ray movie sales, and games. If they cant sell enuff units though, what game devs will support them? The game devs will go with whatever game system sells more units, giving them a medium for selling more of thier own units. The ps2 was successfull becuse even joe dirt could get a dvd player at the ps2 price. joe dirt wont be getting a blue ray player for a long time. The market isent right for the ps3 in my opinion. Sure BIG SCREEN TV GUY wants blue ray, but what if big screen tv guy is a small market? If the market is run off the back of big screen tv guy blue ray wont do as well as if it can be run off of joe dirt.
PS3 is a system for "grown-ups", Sony isn't out to get us "core" gamers this time.
Honestly, I'm psyched to get to play one at work today on the kiosk, I think now that the actual systems are hitting, we will see who is on top of their game... terrible pun not intended.
EDIT: seriously, how is it a status symbol? It plays blu-rays for cheaper and has the greatest graphical and storage potential of the three consoles...[/quote]
The diffrence is, with a widescreen tv, the profit is made on the sale of the tv. sony wont make a profit becuse the ps3 coasts more money to make then they are selling it at. They hope to make all thier money back in blue ray movie sales, and games. If they cant sell enuff units though, what game devs will support them? The game devs will go with whatever game system sells more units, giving them a medium for selling more of thier own units. The ps2 was successfull becuse even joe dirt could get a dvd player at the ps2 price. joe dirt wont be getting a blue ray player for a long time. The market isent right for the ps3 in my opinion. Sure BIG SCREEN TV GUY wants blue ray, but what if big screen tv guy is a small market? If the market is run off the back of big screen tv guy blue ray wont do as well as if it can be run off of joe dirt.
[quote name='willardhaven']
EDIT: seriously, how is it a status symbol? It plays blu-rays for cheaper and has the greatest graphical and storage potential of the three consoles...[/QUOTE]
Everyone that I know and talk to and see at school on a daily basis, and just judging by the general public, once the PS3 is extremely hard to find it will be the "it" thing to have among many casual people.
"Oh man, you got a PS3? That is so awesome, they are so hard to find, let's all get together and play it today!"
Obviously, this type of reaction will fade away as the system gets easier to find, but people will buy it on instinct just because it will be so hard to find and the person who has it will be the go to guy for hanging out.
EDIT: seriously, how is it a status symbol? It plays blu-rays for cheaper and has the greatest graphical and storage potential of the three consoles...[/QUOTE]
Everyone that I know and talk to and see at school on a daily basis, and just judging by the general public, once the PS3 is extremely hard to find it will be the "it" thing to have among many casual people.
"Oh man, you got a PS3? That is so awesome, they are so hard to find, let's all get together and play it today!"
Obviously, this type of reaction will fade away as the system gets easier to find, but people will buy it on instinct just because it will be so hard to find and the person who has it will be the go to guy for hanging out.
willardhaven
CAGiversary!
- Feedback
- 12 (100%)
Yeah, I forget how the general public consumes videogames...
They get it to be cool, play one GTA game and then go back to downloading Eminem songs for their Ipod.
My point is this: Sony has a strategy and they are executing it... I was pissed when I heard the price too, but there is an audience Sony is looking for and they will most likely obtain that audience.
It seems like everyone assumes sony is going to fail if they don't capture the mainstream. I don't know their true plans for this, and I'm not a marketing genius, but I would assume their staff understands impulse and other basic economical issues.
Being an economical "Joe Dirt" myself, I'll be playing my 10+ new PS2 games in the meantime.
They get it to be cool, play one GTA game and then go back to downloading Eminem songs for their Ipod.
My point is this: Sony has a strategy and they are executing it... I was pissed when I heard the price too, but there is an audience Sony is looking for and they will most likely obtain that audience.
It seems like everyone assumes sony is going to fail if they don't capture the mainstream. I don't know their true plans for this, and I'm not a marketing genius, but I would assume their staff understands impulse and other basic economical issues.
Being an economical "Joe Dirt" myself, I'll be playing my 10+ new PS2 games in the meantime.
Cormier6083
CAGiversary!
Some people will lose intrest. Some won't.
willardhaven
CAGiversary!
- Feedback
- 12 (100%)
[quote name='thagoat']you can't impulse buy something that isnt on the shelf. it wont be for some time. piss poor planning all around by sony. as for sony online, theyre taking the same lame ass approach as the ps2, with no central hub. booo! im handing the heavyweight belt over to the 360.[/quote]
But I can play Ratchet & Clank 3 and MGS 3 online for free...
I think for me at least, free wins over not free.
But I can play Ratchet & Clank 3 and MGS 3 online for free...
I think for me at least, free wins over not free.
[quote name='White-Wolf']I dont think the 360 has sold well. ps2 has sold over 100 million units, while the xbox 360 has sold about 5 million. I think even if the ps3 does poor, the ps2 will still save them. Although i dont know if they will beable to recover from the amount the spend on blue ray and cell.[/QUOTE]
Correct.
Despite having a few to several great to good games, Microsoft has only sold about half of what they were hoping to sell before you could get a PS3. While some gamers waited for the PS3, the vast majority of them think that $400 is too much for a video game console. At $300, it's still a bit high, but people are still willing to look seriously at a game console, especially if it does something else or comes with a game. I think that several gamers are being priced out of the market and will either buy less games or switch to a platform that either offers more functionality (PC) or is cheaper (portables). I expect the next, next gen consoles to be significantly lower then the ones that just came/are coming out.
Correct.
Despite having a few to several great to good games, Microsoft has only sold about half of what they were hoping to sell before you could get a PS3. While some gamers waited for the PS3, the vast majority of them think that $400 is too much for a video game console. At $300, it's still a bit high, but people are still willing to look seriously at a game console, especially if it does something else or comes with a game. I think that several gamers are being priced out of the market and will either buy less games or switch to a platform that either offers more functionality (PC) or is cheaper (portables). I expect the next, next gen consoles to be significantly lower then the ones that just came/are coming out.
Buju2oo7
CAG Veteran
[quote name='jkam']I think its obvious that the PS3 will sell. I started thinking about this though...with the $500-600 price tag will Sony lose out on the impulse buy consumer? I mean the guy who plays it at his friend's house and doesn't really care too much about owning a console. He sees a PS2 for $130 and buys one on the spot. We could assume that the PS3 will drop in price but so will the other consoles. So do you think Sony is already losing out on a piece of the market? Thoughts?[/quote]
I hear what your saying but if that person buys a ps2 it still helps sony in someway
I hear what your saying but if that person buys a ps2 it still helps sony in someway
bread's done