So getting rid off backwards compatability and forcing those who want it to shell out a higher price was a well thought out plan?

What about saying, you don't want rumbling controllers, they won't work in your controllers, oh, wait, here they are, you DO want them! Another well thought out plan?

I want to buy a PS3, but until the gamers, and specifically European gamers stop getting shafted, I'm not giving Sony my money for a product that they are charging a higher price for over here, with reduced functionality.

Sony UK, please get your act together and give us prices that are in line with the rest of the world, and stop taking out components from ours!

Sony are now admitting the price was 'a barrier to some'? I think they would be better off realising that they made an out and out mistake when they thought consumers would pay over a hundred pounds more for a machine that does nothing more than the 360.

They've now lost out on alot of developer support because they put all their eggs in one sony badged basket. We don't need the UK boss to tell us it was a barrier when Sony are now using stealth tactics to boost sales to try and make up for their mistakes.

All this only makes Sony look bad as a brand and in reality puts alot of people off from wanting a Sony machine now anyway. in all fairness, a company that behaves this way doesn't deserve the market share they have now lost.

Whether they can admit that to themselves is another matter.

As far a I am concerned now it's all to late for me, I was a Playstation Fan for years, Sony has had thousands of pounds from me in the past in hardware and software purchases.
I was waiting and waiting for the PS3 to be released in the Uk, I became disenchanted and jumped ship to the Xbox360 thinking that I would sell the 360 at the PS3 launch. When I found out the UK price and spec's of the PS3's I honestly thought they were taking the mickey and abusing their UK fanbase.
I decided at that point just before the launch date to stick with my 360. I'm pleased that I did as the Ps3 offered little extra for a much higher price tag. Since I have made another 360 purchase in the form of the Elite console which is an excellent bit of kit. Maybe when Sony get things right and stop abusing Uk and European gamers I may return but it won't be until the next console wars come around.
Ps Don't argue Blueray over HD to me as I have no interest in watching movies at home I just want good value consoles, a choice of great games and an excellent online experience.

@ Posts 1, 2 and 3:

Guys, I couldn't agree more. Sony have indeed their "shafted" UK/European fan-base, not only by promising a world-wide launch that they could not achieve (first PS3 marketing disaster) but then setting the price tag at the highest on the face of the planet (PS3 marketing disaster 2).

Then, they pretend nothing is wrong and sales are "doing well" (PS3 marketing disaster 3), while X360 just soars away with early releases, exclusives and new IP (GoW, BioShock etc.)

Then come the model changes and all territories are thrown into turmoil - no one knows what's out and how much it costs (PS3 marketing disaster 4).

Then the price drops - while a good thing, unfortunately, it just makes Microsoft laugh at Sony's admission that they got it wrong, and makes fans dismayed/disappointed/cynical (circle as appropriate - or perhaps you feel all three?!)

And wait...what's this? They take out backwards compatibility AS WELL? So, what's the price drop for then? A trojan horse to flog the old 60GB model to get rid of it from the shelves?! Pathetic and desperate, that's what it sounds like to me...

Then DualShock3 is announced and all of a sudden not only is backwards compatibility last-gen, but rumble is BACK! Only, gamers have purchased this **** controller called SixAxis, which uses something called motion sensing that no game has either implemented properly yet (see disastrous Lair reviews) or can't be bothered to do so.

Now the figures are out and Sony is third, and while Microsoft did not keep an eye on the fad-based Nintendo Revolution's (I'm sorry, but I just can't bring myself to call it by its **** marketing name) soaring sales, neither's success is any consolation to Sony's abysmal performance so far.

I guess you can tell that I've not bought a PS3 by now and I have no intention to do so either. I'm quite happy with my PS2 and I believe it's still got some years to go. Besides, I've got loads of games for it that I need to finish first, so I'm happy with that for now.

I use a projector at home for my permanent PS2 display and have it hooked into my hi-fi, and I'm a firm believer in consumer devices doing more than one job (doubling up the PS2 as a DVD player), so I'm not equipped for HD technology and have no interest in it at the moment.

I must admit that I'm not into giving Microsoft my money either, although I can freely admit that they're doing a better job in the games console market at the moment, than Sony. But that doesn't mean that I'm going to give them my money - Microsoft have this tendency to dominate, not compete, in any market they enter. So, I don't believe they're a good driving force in the games industry.

So, how many PS3 marketing disasters does that make it? I stopped counting half way down my post...Oh, **** it, who cares!!

Over & Out.

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