Sony announces PS3 and PSP price cuts

PlayStation 3: now available for less than £ 200. Photo: Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters

Sony has announced that it cut the price of its Playstation 3 console from £ 250 to £ 199, effective immediately. Consumer electronics Giant also is set to launch a new cheaper version of its handheld console, PSP, with a price of € 99. An official pound sterling figure is yet to be confirmed.

PS3 was launched in 2006 and is now delivered more than 50 m units, with sales rising significantly since the launch of a cheaper slimline machine in 2009. It is believed that major retailers will cut the price even more and with supermarkets will probably go as low as £ 180.

The new price was revealed during Sony's press conference on the event GamesCom in Cologne, where the company also made several game messages — including resistance: Burning Skies, a new version of the hit PS3 shooter games developed specifically for the PlayStation Vita and Dance Star Party, a dance version of its hit karaoke series, Singstar.

The new, cheaper PSP, which removes the Wi-Fi functionality from the six-year-old handheld, surprised many in the audience. After the announcement of the console Playstation Vita at E3 this year, it was assumed that Sony would retiring the older technology. Instead the company repackaging PSP as an entry level machine, test out its software catalog with a number of reduced price classic titles.

Talk about price cuts, Andrew House, President and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe said: "our strategy is to provide the highest quality entertainment experience at affordable prices. With the PSP at € 99 feel Vita starts at € 249 and the PlayStation 3 at € 249, we trust the gamers can enjoy the games incredible available on Playstation, regardless of the level of investment suits their budget. "

However, some industry insiders question the logic of publishes two specialist gaming handheld devices in a market which is being pressured by the rise of smartphones and tablet pc games. It is possible, two will cannibalise each other's markets, or to the less expensive handheld will draw complaints about the price point of more expensive machine.

' The problem is, while the new PSP price point-makes the console very attractive, as a side effect, it puts an unflattering light on the price point of Vita, ' said Rob Crossley of industry news source develop., "I think the price of the PSP now puts pressure on Sony to also reduce the price of Vita from £ 229 to ensure that it is attractive."

The timing of the reduction in price of the PlayStation 3 have also fueled debate. "Sony release the price point at a time when there has been no significant pressure from retailers do," said Crossley. "It is a big change from the PS3 's past price falls."

Of course, away from the retailer pressures, is another reason why a console manufacturer can cut the price on its current generation technology: an imminent hardware announcement. Sony has assured gamers that the PS3 will have a 10-year life span, and it is likely the PlayStation 4 even a few years away. But with the Tokyo Game Show will take place next month, and industry in the game in an accelerated period of development, thanks to increasing social and mobile gaming, everything is possible.

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Zoopla adds the property price heat maps

Online property is a highly competitive space where innovation, but still seems to move fairly slowly. London- Zoopla based has arguably done a better job of another approach, and since we first profile site in August 2008 the company has acquired Thinkproperty.com from Guardian Media Group, acquired Property Shall from News International and, more recently acquired houseprices.co.uk.

Zooplas latest addition is on top of a new Android app year, a property archives and partnerships Archant, with AOL and BBC Worldwide, a new heat map.

Zoopla's USP is its house price data that contextualises its property searches and makes it significantly different from the competition-a pretty compelling tool for house hunters and nosey neighbors as well. Heat map re presents this data in a different way, aggregation property values throughout the UK and shows the average property size, price and number of properties with each view. Given the seemingly endless British appetite for property, it is likely to find an enthusiastic audience.

Zooplas property of the heat map showing Southampton

Zoopla argues, it is to see faster growth than competitors Findaproperty and Primelocation, with all three outsripping market leading Rightmove. Nielsen figures for May this year bring Zoopla of 1.9 million users for the month, 43.6% from April, while the Rightmove so 12.1% growth.

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Nintendo slashes price of 3DS

Nintendo has slashed the price of its 3DS console. Photo: Toru Hanai/Reuters

Nintendo thatit will have announced cut 3DS price for with almost a third.

Comes less than five months after innovative glasses-free 3D handheld console launch, is this rapid reaction to disappointing sales figures without precedent for Nintendo.

The machine currently has a recommended retail price of £ 269.99 which retailers have already eroded to a street price of £ 199.99 with a bundle of games. But from August 12, if retailers resist the urge to increase their margins on 3DS, we can anticipate a new RRP of around £ 170 – military invasions to a street price of between £ 130 and £ 140.

In the past, Nintendo tends to leave the price of its handheld consoles constantly until they are replaced by new variants (as was the case with the original DS, released in March 2005 and was replaced by DS Lite at the end of 2006).

Even 3 DSS predecessor, the DSi (end of DS variants), was on sale for 18 months before its price was cut. In risk mitigation, 3DS had the highest launch price of any handheld console, Nintendo, but the rapidity of price reduction would lead to questions about whether it should have been priced so much in the first place, especially during a global economic slowdown.

Nintendo revealed the worldwide price cut as part of its first quarter financial announcement on Thursday, in a clear attempt to avert a downturn in market confidence.

Nintendo reported a first quarter operating loss of ¥ 37.7bn ($ 297 m) and cut its annual operating costs, surplus forecast to ¥ 35bn from an initial forecast of ¥ 175bn.

Announces price cut, Nintendo said: "so we will be able to create momentum for the Nintendo 3DS and accelerate its market penetration against year-end sales season, when must be enriched lineup to existing software, the company has decided to make this markdown."

There is a tacit concession in its short life so far, 3DS has suffered from a low gameskiller. The company took pains to point out that what it regards as the most important 3DS game – Super Mario 3D Earth and Mario Kart 7 – will go on sale in November and December 2011 respectively.

The problem of reducing the price of consoles — especially so soon after the start – is that it breeds resentment among early adopters, who paid the original price. Fortunately, Nintendo has moved to such concerns: existing 3DS owners will be able to join the company calls a Nintendo 3DS Ambassador Programme, entitling them to obtain 10 NES game plus 10 Game Boy and Game Boy Advance games for free.

All they need to be 3DS ambassadors is the directory on the 3DS ' online store before August 12. These free NES week will start to become available on 1 September and will include at least the stone-cold classics such as Super Mario Bros., Donkey Kong Jr, and the original Legend of Zelda.

The free Game Boy Advance game will be available later this year, and will include the likes of Yoshi's Iceland, Super Mario Advance 3, Mario Kart: Super Circuit and Metroid Fusion. They will be exclusive to 3DS ambassadors, giving a minimum of one-upmanship.

No matter how perhaps Nintendo spin price reductions that are not get away from that it is a response to worse than expected 3DS sales bad news for the company – in years, Nintendo has taken pride in setting prices for its hardware, which makes it possible to achieve a profit margin on each unit, unlike rivals such as Microsoft and Sonywho have sold their Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 consoles at a loss early in their life cycles, to establish a foothold in the market.

Free download games would also ease the pain of those who after 12 August, will feel they are paid over the odds for their 3DS consoles. But 3DS sale will come under great scrutiny when this Christmas – the Central annual period for games retail – comes.

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Marvel vs Capcom 3 price check

Enjoy vs Capcom 3: fate of two worlds is the first major console release of the year in which you get blow as Spiderman and other Marvel comic book character to the arcade great such as Ryu from Street Fighter.

The game also has a online facility, so you can take on other players from around the world in three on three tag team battle.

Marvel vs Capcom 3 is available for both PS3 and Xbox 360. Price check karate kicks a RRP of £ 49.99 and are looking for a better deal for the money-saving gamers without the need for Kryptonite or its Lycra clad suit.

The best online price is games from simply to both Xbox 360 and PS3 on £ 29.85 – the only company to break the £ 30 barrier.

However, if you cannot wait for a few days for delivery then pop into Asda, selling the game for both platforms at £ 32.97. As it is not a specialist gaming shop its advisable to call ahead before you set off.

Next best high street price is with games that sell both Xbox 360 and PS3 versions for £ 37.99.

We took a quick snapshot of the prices offered by the game this week and sold prices on eBay.

Trade in Halo reach games would get you £ 10 discount price of Marvel vs Capcom 3. But the retrieved between £ 16 and £ 17.88 on eBay, minus Commission fees.

If you went to the game with a copy of Gran Turismo 5 for PS3 you would get £ 30, to make the cost of Marvel vs Capcom 3 just £ 7.99. On the other hand, sold a second-hand copy of GT5 yesterday on eBay for £ 24.95 including postage.

Other trade with the prices of the game include Assassin's Creed: brotherhood to Xbox 360 £ 22. Interesting, you can buy a brand new copy of this for only £ 21.85 by Just games.

Other shops accept old games in part exchange Asda include.

How have readers went elsewhere with your trading partners in the games?

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