Conference metalx::playstation

    
    		Looks like Sony is gearing up to drop the price of the 
    	playstation again.  They've just set up new manufacturing capacity
    	in Mexico where they produce tv sets.  Expect an announcement
    	around May/June timeframe to coincide with the E3 show.
    		More third party software companies jumping on the
    	playstation Bandwagon.  ENIX of Japan recently announced that the 
    	next installment of the Dragon Quest series will be on the
    	playstation.  Couple of days after this, Nintendo of Japan stock
    	took a big tumble.  In an effort to exact damage control NoJ 
    	released a slew of Zelda pictures to appease the shareholders
    	and since then thier stock has recovered.
    
    
    							Shark
    
    
    
    

    THis is cool... From the Absolute Playstation web site:
    
    Talk on the grapevine at the moment is that Sony are to incorporate
    PlayStation Hardware into their new range of DVD (Digital Versatile
    Disk) units. This would allow users to view the new batch of CD based
    movies that will soon arrive, as well as enjoying the vast quantity of
    existing and new PlayStation titles. Great new for us current owners of
    the Sony console, as it will surely add longevity to the the current
    PSX hardware.

    
    
    		Anybody care to guess what the biggest selling playstation
    	game of all time is?  Tomb Raider, Resident Evil, Tekken 2...
    	Wrong, it's FF VII.  After being on sale in Japan since Jan. 31
    	2 million copies have been sold.  Sony is expected to press 
    	another 1-2 million copies of the 3 cd epic mega-rpg.  It's 
    	being called the greatest game of all time.  Sony official 
    	release date for the USA conversion is slated for Sept. 7.
    	Pre-orders will begin around the june/july timeframe.  So until
    	then. Death to the evil Shin-Ra Corp.
    
    
    						Shark
    
    
    

    
    From the European news section of Absolute Playstation......
    
    LIGHT GUN CRISIS
    
    If you are one of the many owners of a Logic 3 Predator light gun, then
    you had better go out and buy a holster to store it in. 
    
    News has just broke that the eagerly awaited Playstation version of
    Time Crisis will only work with Namco's Guncon, which will be packaged 
    with the game when it is released next month. This is going to be a huge
    disappointment to the many gamers that have spent their hard earned
    cash on a Predator gun for Die Hard Trilogy, thinking that it was a
    good investment with Time Crisis on the horizon.
    
    Obviously, the inclusion of a Guncon will affect the price of the game,
    but don't be fooled into thinking that you could use it on your copy of 
    Die Hard, as Namco's light gun will work only with Time Crisis and no
    other shooting game.
    
    The reason for the introduction of an exclusive light gun for Time
    Crisis, is that the Guncon will plug into your PSX and your television
    set to increase the accuracy ten fold.
    

>Gun-CON, what an accurate name! 

Ha!  No %$#@!

>   The reason for the introduction of an exclusive light gun for Time
>   Crisis, is that the Guncon will plug into your PSX and your television
>   set to increase the accuracy ten fold.

10 fold?  Hmmm, somehow I doubt that!  And where could this gun possibly
plug into your TV?!  The RF input?... the Video input?  I'm *really* curious!

Somebody please post more info on this!

Ken

 

    Ken,
    
    I heard that the GunCon will plug into the controller port and a port
    on the back of the playstation (for the extra accuracy).
    
    Kevin

Okay, that makes a little more sense than plugging directly into your TV!

Ken

    Sony are cutting thje price of some games, like Tekken2, DD2 etc by 50%
    ready for the release of the Nintendo64.  
    
    SHould bhe good,
    
    Chris

    Are you sure?
    They're releasing old games (RR, DD, Wipeout etc.) at budget price.
    One or two people might be a bit narked if they've recently paid full
    whack for DD2 and then it starts selling for half the price! (me, for
    instance!)
    
    Ian
    

    >>(RR, DD, Wipeout etc.) at budget price.
    
    �19.99 was the price I heard - not exactly budget when you consider
    trade-in/exchange shop prices. 
    
    This is a little frustrating as I was considering trading a few of my
    first gen titles and the value will now drop consirably!
    
    
    
    			Stretch.

    I'm fairly sure about this....
    
    We'll find out soon anyway.
    
    Chris

    Chris,
    
    Where did you see this info?
    
    
    
    
    				Stretch.

    I think it might have been gamesmaster on Channel 4, but I can't be
    sure.  I've been trying to learn Microsoft stuff for my MCSE, so
    anything not relavant doesn't get comitted to memory.
    
    Cheers,
    
    Chris :-)

    I did see something at the w/e that said new games are likely to be
    sold at �34.99 in an agressive attack on Nintendo. This is expected to
    start later in March. I'm not sure why it is not from the 1st, so they could
    knacker the N64 launch.
    
    
    
    				Stretch. 

    I saw it in the News of the World yesterday too.  Sony's platinum range
    of games, which include RR, DD2 and Tekken2 willbe on sale for �19.99.
    
    Once again,  good news for "new" punters.
    
    Chris

    
    From Absolute Playstation..........
    
    OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE (Sony UK) - PlayStation Price Drop: 
    
    London 28th February 1997-- Sony Computer Entertainment today announced
    that PlayStation, the world's leading CD-based games console, will be
    on sale in the UK for �129 from 24th March.
    
    PlayStation has been priced at �199 since May 1996.
    
    Today's announcement is being supported by advertisements and
    promotions in national tabloid press, and will be followed up on the
    24th of March with a �1 .5m Easter marketing campaign to Include
    national television and press advertising and a heavy in-store presence.
    
    UK managing director Ray Maguire: 'PlayStation has established Itself
    as market leader In every country around the world. We've now sold 12  
    million units, with production running at 1 million units per month.
    This production capacity gives us the opportunity to market PlayStation
    at an aggressive, mass-market price point, bringing in a wider range of 
    consumers.'
    
    Sony Computer Entertainment recently forecast 1.6 million PlayStations
    would be In UK homes by the end of 1997.
    
    On the 7th of March PlayStation launches Its Platinum Range of games,
    which offers top-selling, classic titles such as Tekken and Ridge Racer
    at �19.99 each, giving a price range for PlayStation games of between �19.99
    and �44.99.
    
                                               
    

    Sorry,
    
    I was mistaken with the games, not Tekken2 or DD2, it's the originals.
    
    Chris

    
    		On this side of the pond, US price of Playstation is
    	$149.  Down from $199.  No official response yet from sega
    	or nintendo.
    
    
    							Shark
    
    

    I saw that Nintendo have a months backlog of sales to catch up on at
    the old price so they see no reason to drop the N64 cost. I would be
    very surprised if Sonys timing has not had some effect on Nintendo
    sales though.
    
    The bit that makes this more interesting is the game prices, how are   
    Nintendo to compete with the very agressive pricing of Sony given their 
    history on cart prices (in the UK at least).
    
    
    
    Also, Sony are releasing a new, more expensive, PS in Asia. The reason
    it costs more is the ability to play CD videos.
    
    
    
    			
    	  			Stretch.

    I checked the charts on Digitiser this morning and was surprised to see
    _all_ the new budget range titles in the top 10.
    
    Most surprising was that Destruction Derby was the 2nd best seller -
    ahead of Destruction Derby 2 (in 3rd place).
    
    Ian
    What joy - 2 games with 'Derby' in the title!!

    re -.1
    That was the PlayStation only chart, of course
    

    You from Derby then Ian ?
    
    Chris (No chance of a Destruction Long Eaton game then ?)

    That is correct.
    
    Destruction Long Eaton - What a great idea!
    
    Ian