Thursday, April 12, 2007

Sony has hit the off button on the 20-Gbyte PlayStation 3 in North America, saying consumers and retailers favored the more expensive 60-Gbyte version 10 to 1.

The Japanese consumer electronics maker on Wednesday said it would continue to sell the $499 20-Gbyte model until supplies are depleted. Consumers who bought the machine will still receive full support and services, since all PS3s have the same basic architecture.

"Basically, the consumers spoke and they prefer the advanced features found on the 60-Gbyte model," Dave Karraker, spokesman for Sony Computer Entertainment America, said in an e-mail.

Consumer preference for the more expensive PS3 points to a market for high-end game consoles, Karraker said. "I suppose one could surmise that this also supports the notion that consumers are willing to pay more for advanced technology in a gaming console," he said. In addition to the larger hard drive, the 60-Gbyte PS3 features storage media slots and built-in Wi-Fi not found in the 20-Gbyte system.

Labels: Video games