The PS3 Buzz Continues
Even though the Sony PlayStation 3 was released in the United States on November 17th , the excitement is yet to die down. Estimates of the number of units released in the U.S. range between the expected 400,000 and perhaps only 250,000. Yet despite its high price, retailers were sold out in a matter of hours and others were auctioned on eBay for a lot more than the retail price.
The same thing happened in Japan where the release date was November 11th, almost a week earlier. In 24 hours they sold just over 81,000 consoles. Was this done purposely to increase the anticipation in the United States as fans of the PS3 watched as those across the ocean were already bringing their new game consoles home?
What about the Sony PlayStation 3 release dates in Europe and Australia? Is there a reason that only certain areas of the world were thought to deserve these game consoles in time for Christmas and yet others were not? Why do Europeans and Australians have to wait for a PS3 release date of March 2007? This has angered a lot of fans. Especially when Sony has threatened anyone who sells a North American model overseas with legal action.
Many consumers are complaining that the Sony PlayStation 3 release date was a staged event to generate more interest than there would otherwise be if the consoles came out with a good supply. Irate shoppers are claiming that the shortage is nothing more than a publicity stunt designed by Sony to increase its flagging share of the gamers market. With the other new game consoles coming out in good supply and worries about the PS3 being twice the price and maybe not twice the kick, many feel that generating publicity is more important then supplying the game.
The company is of course denying any such motivation and sights instead high research and development costs, production problems and delays by suppliers that caused the slow down of their launch.
