So, those lucky Japanese and Americans are now able to buy the PS3, after it launched in Japan on 10 November, and the US and Canada on 17 November. But, it seems, we shouldn’t be too envious.
According to reports, Sony didn’t manage to fulfil its launch objectives, in terms of the number of machines that went out to shops. The Japanese market got around 80,000, rather than the 100,000 promised; no figures have yet come through regarding the number that made it to North America, but you can bet that it was significantly less than the mooted 400,000.
Another widely reported stat was that a mere 0.98 games were sold per console in Japan. Which can only mean one thing: the vast majority were bought by people in order to sell on. Visit eBay, and it suggests that this assessment is correct.
Or, at least, eBay.com does - eBay.co.uk is scrupulously (and rightly) refusing to allow its devotees to sell PS3s before the European launch date (which, of course, still hasn’t been resolved beyond ‘March’). eBay.com lists literally thousands of PS3s, going for $1,000 and upwards. At least the US speculators seem to have had the decency to buy plenty of games to accompany their machines, presuming, wisely, that that would be a great way of being seen to add value in comparison with their peers.
Already, it seems, gamers angry with the scalping which is going on have responded in time-honoured fashion: by putting in outrageously high bids after setting up dummy eBay accounts, and then, naturally, failing to honour them. This approach is less effective in the US than Japan, though, where suspect bids can merely be ignored.
It’s such a shame that the PS3 launch has been dogged by such naked profiteering - although, of course, the vast majority of lucky PS3 purchasers have eschewed such impolite behaviour. Just imagine the sort of bragging rights you would command if you had a PS3? Actually, we can, as we do have one, and they are absolutely immense.
Of course, when the PS3 launches here in March, demand will enormously outstrip supply, but at least the time Sony has bought itself by delaying the European launch should mean the gulf between supply and demand should be less marked. Speculation, of course, will still be rife. But - and this thought must currently be all-consuming at Sony - the only way to alleviate such behaviour is by launching an unprecedented manufacturing push. We await news of the second waves of PS3 shipments to Japanese and US retailers with interest, as that will give us a blueprint for the UK launch.
Steve Boxer
Thats swell and all but were waiting to sign up our usernames for the Playstation Network! Sony failed to deliver yet another promise to the european market. Seconded by the fact that with the recent 3.00 update to PSP that you HAVE to have a PS3 to download the PS1 games. Europe gets it in the ass again!
Comment by Angelus3K — Nov 21, 2006 @ 7:07 pm
After a lot of trouble and 2 and a half days of waiting I was able to secure a Playstation 3 and some games. I’ve kept mine though and I love it.
Resistance 40 player online is like a mini MMO!
PS you can make a Japanese account too to grab Japanese content!
(just like the 360).
Comment by Neil — Nov 21, 2006 @ 7:20 pm
The market for PS3s on eBay should decline steadily till Christmas, when it will most likely rise again. However, I dont think 1,000 PS3s will get sold for $1000 so, hopefully, scalpers (thats what you are!) wont get to make too much money…
Comment by Kamesen — Nov 21, 2006 @ 9:03 pm
What things are available on the Japanese PlayStation site that aren’t on the U.S. one?
Comment by Stephen Frost — Nov 21, 2006 @ 9:47 pm
I’ve already been hearing from plenty of people that “second” shipment(s) of PS3’s have been coming and going– basically bought before they can even touch the glass case they are to be sitting behind.
At least 2 separate incidents of units “arriving” to Best Buys in particular have been communicated to me by friends, forum users, as well as Best Buy employees. Accuracy of the reports? Anyone’s guess, but something tells me that PS3’s ARE in fact trickling in.
Perhaps it is because all of the pre-orders are JUST NOW starting to get completely filled in some retail places, and that walk-in consumers still aren’t able to get their hands on any, that we aren’t noticing the arrival of more units?
Comment by OrganicShadow — Nov 21, 2006 @ 10:29 pm
BOGUS!!!
What reports? There has been lots of spiteful rumor but I haven’t seen ANY official or believable reports on actual quantity shipments.
Even your 80,000 figure is wrong. Enterbrain reported that 88,400 PS3’s were sold in Japan in the first two days. And unit sales quantities typically are a little lower than shipment quantities for some reason I don’t quite understand.
“According to reports, Sony didn’t manage to fulfil its launch objectives, in terms of the number of machines that went out to shops. The Japanese market got around 80,000, rather than the 100,000 promised; no figures have yet come through regarding the number that made it to North America, but you can bet that it was significantly less than the mooted 400,000.”
Comment by psfan — Nov 22, 2006 @ 2:09 pm
Couldn’t it be that those people buying PS3s don’t have money to buy PS3 games, take their consoles home, and keep playing their PS2 collection (which is still growing)? I know that’s what I plan to do with mine whenever I get it.
Comment by Mart — Nov 22, 2006 @ 9:34 pm
The whole eBay thing makes me sick, there need to be rules in place to stop it becoming so mainstream.
I suggest the ULTIMATE SONY FANBOY PREORDER PROFILING SCHEME.
Hear me out…
A quiz of 200 Sony Playstation related questions. Top scorers will be allowed a pre-order.
Hey presto, not perfect but it’s a start right?!
Comment by Ben Furneaux — Nov 24, 2006 @ 7:46 pm
What you really mean is, “eBay.co.uk have been forced into refusing to allow its members to sell PS3s before the European launch date by a verdict in a court that was provided with no defense evidence”. But of course being a Sony-affiliated blog I suppose you can’t say that. The arguments presented when the result of the court case was announced are highly specious; although the PS3 does not (for some reason) carry a CE sticker label on the outside, when it is disassembled the CE certification is clearly visible engraved into the chassis of the power supply. As for issues of copyright and trademarks, it seems as if the judge had not heard of the concepts of doctrine of first sale or worldwide trademark exhaustion (look up “first sale” and “rights exhaustion on wikipedia for more information on those).
Comment by Danj — Nov 24, 2006 @ 8:12 pm
Er… what, precisely, is wrong about people buying for resale? Nobody’s forcing people to buy PS3s, and nobody’s forcing Sony to sell below the market-clearing price.
If you think putting PS3s on eBay is the Downfall of Western Civilizationâ„¢, don’t participate. Seems fairly straightforward to me.
And second Danj’s comments about ebay.co.uk not allowing PS3s  what they’re doing may be required by their lawyers, but their actions are completely orthogonal to any sense of morality. Pity nobody in government actually gives a damn about getting rid of all the trade barriers that keep British prices jacked up… although, using the logic in this post, one could certainly argue that paying £50 for a $50 game is a moral imperative.
Comment by Brad Ackerman — Nov 24, 2006 @ 9:42 pm
Er… what, precisely, is wrong about buying for resale? Nobody’s forcing people to buy PS3s, and nobody’s forcing Sony to sell below the market-clearing price.
If you think putting PS3s on eBay is the Downfall of Western Civilisation™, don’t participate. Seems fairly straightforward to me.
And second Danj’s comments about ebay.co.uk not allowing PS3s  what they’re doing may be required by their lawyers, but their actions are completely orthogonal to any sense of morality. Pity nobody in government actually cares about getting rid of all the trade barriers that keep British prices jacked up… although, using the logic in this post, one could certainly argue that paying £50 for a $50 game is a moral imperative.
Comment by Brad Ackerman — Nov 24, 2006 @ 9:48 pm
It’s not true that most went to eBay or other auction sites (about 34,000 were availble the day after launch, which is likely to be about 1/7th the amount sold).
I managed to get a PS3, but there were no games that I really wanted to get. This is where the EU will certainly benefit. Once PS3 consoles hit your market, there will be several games to buy with it.
Us early adopters in North America/Japan will be left waiting until spring for the games that will truly be worthwhile.
Comment by TheHeroOfCanton — Nov 25, 2006 @ 6:09 pm
Any benefit that may be gained from having more games available is vastly outweighed by the higher European price and the loss of the ability to import games that do not come out over here.
Comment by Danj — Nov 27, 2006 @ 5:26 pm
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