Topic: NGP Will Be Affordable!

@V8... I do completely agree that the DS has better software! 100% percent accurate!

With that said though, the PSP has some fantastic software itself. Most of it lies in its JRPG games such as Ys 7, and its sequel. Metal Gear Solid Peacewalker is probably one of the most ambiguous pieces of handheld software that has ever been created, and not to mention the fantastic Monster Hunter Franchise (hopefully you haven't missed the Wii version MH Tri!). You right that most of the games aren't praised like they should be, but PSP does lie in more of a niche gamers category than the DS.

Also with PSP is it's incredible backlog of downloadable PSone Classic. That has been the biggest draw to PSP for myself!

NGP and it's dual-analog sticks is going to be a game winner for a lot of hardcore gamers. Call of Duty in fully online playable form without the nonsense of single analog control will be awesome.

Wow, what an unbiased comment! I bet you haven't even looked at the PSP library!

Seriously dude, I can only think of about three FPSs on the PSP...It's mostly an SRPG machine.

I don't understand how people could call anything more than $200 affordable for a hand-held... I thought $300 (or was it $250?) was a tad expensive for a home console (the Wii in this case)...

Praise the lord, now I can actually get one.

This, plus he's forgetting all the great RPGs and strategy games. And Fighting games.

@Ravage: affordable is relative.

You people must be rich then!
_{Plus you don't have a new computer to pay for.}

To an extent. Usually there's a value that we can finally say, okay, for the average consumer this is or is not affordable. This is why the price of gas is such a hot topic. Is America's average (yes I live in the U.S. guys, I'm not leaving you Europes out for giggles.. hehe) affordable for the average consumer?

Not really, that's why some politicians are considering tapping into our own reserves a.s.a.p. Especially if prices continue to rise. It takes at least $50 to fill up for most people, that's not affordable for most at this point in time (considering most of the U.S. is middle class).

$300 for a handheld device? Affordable maybe to some on here, where their lives revolve around video games. But to the average Joe and Sally working a 9-5 job, that seems a bit much.

I think Nintendo even realized their asking price for the 3DS in Europe was a little high, that's why they lowered it recently.

@Alex... I do understand your point, but as the technology and demand for more power to push games bigger and better all the time increases. So does the price to produce the systems. Sony could easily ask $400+ for the NGP just on the specifications that it's released have proven, but I think this drive to get the cost down to $300 is their way of coping with the issues you have given. iPod Touch and iPad are selling like crazy, and not to forget iPhone and Android phones are being bought by the masses of middle class society.
Quick Search of Prices
iPod $175-$339
iPad $329-$799
iPhone $225-$650
Android $171-$525

This is definitely where they are pulling there pricing from. What is being bought in the markets, and the prices are well below the newest high demand phones, and significantly below the iPad, which regardless to the arguments is quickly becoming a gaming console itself with gamers shelling out the money for the iPad just for the games on it.

...what? There are literally like 5 FPS games for PSP....I'm pretty sure the DS has more of them. And yes--they suck on both consoles. PSP has Ys games (easily a system-seller imo), Crisis Core, FFT, Tactics Ogre, all sorts of Persona goodness, the ability to play PS1 games/minis, etc. Personally I think it's amassed quite a good collection across all genres--not nearly as large count-wise as the DS'... but your generalization isn't even close.

@slapshot - just so you know, the other PSP Ys game (well, one of the other 2) that you're referring too isn't a sequel to Ys 7 in any capacity. It's a remake of the third game in the series, Wanderers from Ys, and it's called Oath in Felghana. It's a lot more action-heavy, about half the length, and way more streamlined...it's also way, way harder Doesn't make it and 7 any less system-seller-status though

Nintendo (and any other manufacturer) "can't" set prices in Europe. They just set the prices they sell to distribution/retail and retail set the prices to the consumers. It's retail that is lowering the price, mostly driven by price wars between supermarkets. If specialist game stores don't try too keep up (at least to some degree), then they'll lose all sales to the supermarkets.

Once the pre-order stuff is out of the way and there is a reasonably steady supply to retail, if the supermarkets keep their current pricing then the game stores will simply have to follow.

What will the NGP give me that the 3DS won't? Bankruptcy?

I'm sure the purchase of a $300ish portable gaming system versus a $250ish portable gaming system will be just the push one needs to be sent straight into bankrupcy.

I understand how they've come up with their pricing. I just think they have had enough success with their previous handheld to consider competing with the 3DS at that price.

There's a much, much higher demand for phones than there is for gaming handhelds, and the NGP doesn't have the benefit of being as overwhelming popular as many smart phones.

I don't doubt there's 300 dollars worth of stuff in the device, nor that there's comparable prices in other areas.. I just doubt Sony is going to be very successful at that price, given the TONS of competition.

Which directly affects whether or not retail can change the price? Or are there no "price cuts" just retailers in happy and generous moods in random intervals throughout a system's life?

No, but his personal purchasing decisions do, and that's all he's claiming. He hasn't expressed any feelings of misguided entitlement...he's just explaining why he's personally not interested.

@AlexSays

My point was that Nintendo haven't messed around with the price they supply to retail as yet. The price drops are down to retail entirely. Initially, some retailers set the price at a horrific £300 in the UK but when the rest aimed at around £230, they soon dropped it.

I thought the price had dropped even further, but I did not realize it was because some retailers had It overpriced initially.

Hopefully American retailers think they ALL have it overpriced and kindly save us a few bucks.

The retailers still have to buy their units from Nintendo and sell them for a profit. £230 was about the standard price, before all the undercuttings and special offers and this is apparently just more than what retailers are paying for them and is still very expensive when you consider you can buy a Wii or 360 for under £200 and a PS3 for just slightly more..

It was a very cheap move by Nintendo by not directly announcing the price themselves. They wanted to pass the blame of high prices over to the retailers, rather than get the backlash themselves.

$300 is totally a fair price for a device - lower than I thought it would be (though 3G enabled will likely be more).

I'm not sure if this is going to be low enough to bring in more new customers and expand their market share. Nintendo is still going to be the "cheap" gaming option with the 3DS along with Apple's iPod Touch. Nintendo also offers 3D which will make it look super cool in stores (read: many kids will see it, go "cool" and ask their parents for one), even if the NGP is technically the superior device.

I'm don't think this will draw people away from their 3DS's and iPads. All this will do is get the device into the people who already enjoy the PSP/PS3 faster, because they won't need to wait for a price drop. If Sony's OK with it doing about as well as those two devices, but just wants to front load their sales more - they're totally fine. I just don't think they're going to expand off that base.