PlayStation Credit Card but No Competitive Price Cut

Sony has determined that what it really needs to do in order to get folk buying the PS3 is not cut the price, but give them a credit card.

John Koller, director of hardware marketing for Sony Computer Entertainment America, writes on the PlayStation Blog, "We’ve introduced our very own PlayStation credit card to offer fans a new way to show off their PlayStation pride and earn reward points towards the purchase of PlayStation and SONY products." More importantly, there is also the chance for US gamers to get $150 off the PS3 between now and the new year when they apply for the card, providing they jump through the right hoops when they make the application.

That's all well and good, but if Sony wants consumers to be able to get the PS3 for $150 (£100) less... shouldn't it just knock the price down by $150 (£100), rather than offering its loyal customers another way to get up to their eyeballs in debt?

In America the Xbox 360 is, after all, available for less than the Wii now - $199.99 (£133). Meanwhile, the least a PS3 will cost you is double that at $399.99 (£266) for the 80GB model. Similarly, you're looking at £299 for a PS3 over here, while a 360 can be had for £129.99.

The new card is not, it must be said, anything brand new for Sony. It has had a Sony Card for years - this is just a variation on that.

^{Source: PlayStation Blog}