The scope of the PS3 launch will soon reach its highest point, as Sony prepares for more launches this March. Ultimately reaching worldwide, on March 23rd Sony will begin offering the console in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Australasia. While Sony is giving glowing reviews to their U.S. launch, we all know better and going to just about any retailer will see unopened PS3s collecting dust. Will the console fare better overseas? Given that the PAL versions will be even more expensive, I somehow doubt it:
Already there is some grumbling about the fact that the PAL-compliant consoles will cost more than their NTSC cousins. The 60 gigabyte version of the system – the only one being released in March – sells for US$599. Sony will charge 599 euros ($776), Pounds 425 ($837), AU$999.95 (US$777) or NZ$1,199.95 (US$839) for the PAL-ready units.
Will these launches be a repeat of November's U.S. launch? Sony had better hope not. I'm not buying in to Sony's market speak, though it is almost sad to see a console with so much potential be ruined by poor deployment.