Sony has confirmed PS3 launch allocations to at least some retailers, SPOnG has learned.
SPOnG spoke to both HMV and GameStation and both retailers confirmed that Sony has given them their allocation figures. Game, which was previously waiting on launch-day allocation figures before taking pre-orders, is also now taking orders.
Outside of retail, however, Sony is unprepared to confirm its arrangements. When asked what numbers we should expect on launch day Sony referred us back to SPOnG's very own interview with Ray Maguire, managing director of SCE. So 220,000 units is still the official line, although we were told that there "could be slightly more."
HMV is taking pre-orders for a £100 deposit. Stores have not been given specific numbers. Rather, HMV told us, "we'll marry the stock to where the pre-orders are." Should it find itself in danger of exceeding its allocation the pre-orders will stop, however. "It's about managing expectations," SPOnG was told.
HMV also recently put a stop to forcing pre-order customers to also buy a PSP. HMV's pre-orders are now for the console only, although bundles may be available on launch day.
GameStation is taking pre-orders for a deposit of £20. It is not, however, garuanteeing a PS3 on launch day as it considers it's launch-day figures to be "rough". That said, it will stop taking the orders at a certain point. One source at GameStation told SPOnG that pre-ordering on the PS3 has been much more subdued than it was for the Wii.
Like HMV, GameStation is taking orders only on the console with no bundles confirmed as yet.
Game is currently taking pre-orders for a £50 deposit, while Amazon begins taking them at 9:00am on the 15th with no deposit.
Things are certainly heating up for the UK's PS3 launch. Sony just announced that Casino Royale will be available on Blu-ray for free with the first 500K consoles registered on the PlayStationNetwork.
Have you pre-ordered a PS3? If so let us know what you found in the Forum.
SPOnG spoke to both HMV and GameStation and both retailers confirmed that Sony has given them their allocation figures. Game, which was previously waiting on launch-day allocation figures before taking pre-orders, is also now taking orders.
Outside of retail, however, Sony is unprepared to confirm its arrangements. When asked what numbers we should expect on launch day Sony referred us back to SPOnG's very own interview with Ray Maguire, managing director of SCE. So 220,000 units is still the official line, although we were told that there "could be slightly more."
HMV is taking pre-orders for a £100 deposit. Stores have not been given specific numbers. Rather, HMV told us, "we'll marry the stock to where the pre-orders are." Should it find itself in danger of exceeding its allocation the pre-orders will stop, however. "It's about managing expectations," SPOnG was told.
HMV also recently put a stop to forcing pre-order customers to also buy a PSP. HMV's pre-orders are now for the console only, although bundles may be available on launch day.
GameStation is taking pre-orders for a deposit of £20. It is not, however, garuanteeing a PS3 on launch day as it considers it's launch-day figures to be "rough". That said, it will stop taking the orders at a certain point. One source at GameStation told SPOnG that pre-ordering on the PS3 has been much more subdued than it was for the Wii.
Like HMV, GameStation is taking orders only on the console with no bundles confirmed as yet.
Game is currently taking pre-orders for a £50 deposit, while Amazon begins taking them at 9:00am on the 15th with no deposit.
Things are certainly heating up for the UK's PS3 launch. Sony just announced that Casino Royale will be available on Blu-ray for free with the first 500K consoles registered on the PlayStationNetwork.
Have you pre-ordered a PS3? If so let us know what you found in the Forum.
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Comments
schnide 13 Feb 2007 10:08
1/1
Spong wrote:
One source at GameStation told SPOnG that pre-ordering on the PS3 has been much more subdued than it was for the Wii.
I wonder how the market compares in terms of those who'd preorder a Wii to a PS3, and those average consumers who'd buy one only as soon as they knew it was available..
Is demand for the Wii still sky high? Will PS3 sell a steady stream in comparison to the Wii frenzy? Or will no-one care?
I think we'll only really know how this plays out after it launches, there are too many unknown quantities.