Sony may have been "overly ambitious", warns Pachter

[wraggster]

Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter has warned that Sony will have to make difficult decisions regarding the PS3's price point if sales of the console are to improve.

Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz Pachter said, "I think Sony's strategy of including a Blu-ray drive and a microprocessor that will stand up to ten more years of technological advances may have been overly ambitious - given that they have so far asked consumers to pay for the high definition movie option and to help finance development of the Cell."

Pachter's comments came after NPD released US sales figures for April, revealing that although PS2 and PSP are selling well the Game Boy Advance is proving more popular than PlayStation 3.

"It's not good news for Sony that most consumers are balking at paying the prices asked for PS3s," Pachter said.

"Sony has to make a choice between subsidising the Blu-ray and cell costs, or waiting until their production costs drop. It's more likely than not that they will break with tradition and cut prices below manufacturing costs."

So far Sony has offered no hint as to when a price cut for PlayStation 3 might be announced. Pachter offered, "My guess is that this will happen at E3 in July, but one never knows with Sony."

via gibiz (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=25132)

[Basil Zero]

Sony should of just focused more on the gaming aspects of the ps3 rather than its Multimedia aspects.

Focusing on one thing too much can damage the system's reputation, heck could make the company make faulty decisions.

Look at PSP, they've decided to focus on more of the multimedia functions, look at it now, barely any multimedia updates, just a bunch of patches.

I say they should equally focus on gaming alittle bit more than multimedia.

[F9zDark]

The biggest issue I have with the PS3 is that Sony tried the same with the PSP, a 'Jack of all Trades' so-to-speak.

To be honest I don't mind that the PSP and PS3 are 'Jacks of all Trades', but Sony should have learned from the PSP that its better to either to do everything perfectly or do 1 thing perfectly.

It will all pan out eventually.

[Shadowblind]

Sony had such an awesome future...I guess its not really something Sony can change at this point, even though I have no doubt that many want to. If they recall the PS3, that could end it. Sony's taking the right path for what they have.

[F9zDark]

Its too early to tell what the future of the Playstation brand has in store or how well it will do. The PS3 will live up to its name in another year or so.

[jdnation]

The PSP is picking up sales, dropping in price, getting great games and features even to teh point of connectivity with the PS3! PS3 will no doubt do teh same, but like the PSP will take time to pick up...