Bundle = smart move.
Price = dumb move.

Does anyone know the price of a 360 + GTA 4 in Sweden? I can't help but feel that if Sony wants any sort of advantage in drawing GTA fans to their side, they are going to need to chop that price down, at least to below $700. C'mon, we all know it doesn't cost that much to manufacture those puppies!

bangbangblah

The people who really get screwed over are Australians, their dollar is currently around AUS$0.90/US$1 and their games cost about $110!

E-Grizzle

Yet with the ever problematic currency conversion. Instead of trying to pinpoint the exact dollar, just compare it to what other products there are on the site. Since I'm Swedish, I can help you.

4499SEK is actually the price for all other 40gb ps3 + One game configurations. A stand-alone ps3 goes off at 4189. That's all you need to know. From that, just imagine what the GTA bundle would cost were it released in your country. Yeah, that's right, it would cost the same as any other 1-game bundle (a quick search gives me a number just over 400 dollars.) Thank you for grasping.

Ciremu

I wonder if this package contains the game itself, or if it's like the 'Halo Edition' of the Xbox 360 that doesn't actually come with the game it's promoting (pretty smart MS!)

// Today's snarky comment brought to you by Arachnospores: the fatal spore with the funny name!

the-hypnotoad

@The Whaleman: €399 for Europe I mean... used the wrong modifier key on the keyboard :)

The Whaleman

@The Whaleman: Mmm :D I got the info from a guy, probably should have checked the stores instead.

Candlejack

@Foxstar Sixtail: Except sales of games outside of UK in Europe have been selling higher on PS3. This is not a bundle for the UK

Kyle81

that box looks heavy

j.howlett

@Amadeus3000

Europeans pay 1.6 times the money for videogames and gear than their U.S. counterparts.

Europeans do NOT earn 1.6 times the money of U.S. citizens on average.

Americans $45.000 average income
Germans $52.000 average income.

We might earn 15% more on average, but we will pay almost 60% more. Even a Wii will cost $400 in Europe.

Asbestos_Underwear

@Candlejack: Heh, you sort of beat me to it... but the 60GB has been discontinued for ages ;) and the MSRP is 4495 for the 40GB model. Doesn't mean you can't find it for 4199 or so.... but still.

The Whaleman

OK, one simple post without any confusing conversion rates:

SEK 4495 is the MSRP for a 40GB SKU, so dollar exchange rates asides, this package would be a PS3 with GTAIV for free... for us economically mutilated swedes.

This would be $399 in the rest of Europe or $399 in the US, it's the MSRP price for a 40GB SKU without a game.

The Whaleman

No, look. Basically, you have to think like this. What is 4450SEK for the Swedes is £299 for the Brits and $399 or whatever the PS3 costs in the USA.

This may sound stubborn but it's the only way to explain it. Also, this has not much to do with how much people earn on average I think. It's just what consoles used to cost there and how Sony thinks the PS3 needs to be priced relatively.

And to further prove my theory, the 40GB PS3 in Sweden normally costs around 4000SEK, the 60GB 5300SEK, the 360 Pro 2500SEK. Just for example.

Candlejack

@JohnnytheFuture:

It's not a confusion. The USD is really really low compared to the Krona right now: [www.google.se]

illojal

*sigh* I wonder how many people honestly find the $750 price so unacceptable. I better go print more dollars and take out more massive loans so I can do my part to lower the value of the US Dollar :(

okenny :)

@nox: It's a 40 gig system so no chance there.

Foxstar Sixtail

$750 I would hope that it would include the other GTA games and Backwards Compatibility.

nox

looks pretty legit, although in the states that bundle would be way cheaper. Ex: MGS4 Bundle. if they do it here, it needs to be announced pronto, and it should drop on release date.

zanzibarlegend

Hmm...It's hard to tell at this point, I'd think with the release only three weeks away that Sony would have announced a bundle like this by now, but who knows, they may have their reasons for keeping it under the radar.

As far as the $750 price tag goes, I'm sure there is some sort of confusion with currency conversion here, especially for a 40GB system.

JohnnytheFuture

@exkon: One US Dollar is roughly 6SEK, so no, it's no mistype... 4499 really do convert to $750, but as stated several times, it's not that easy. $150 of those $750 is sales tax... and on top of that we got higher salary than the US on average ;) So conversion and translation of currency should alway be treated differently.

That being said, the PS3 is still being overpriced compared to everything else in Scandinavia... but it should only have cost 500 SEK ($85ish) less to match the standard price translation to what MS and Nintendo charges for their consoles.

The Whaleman

The price is fail, but it's not the US, it's Sweden. A bundle like this wouldn't hurt..but it wouldn't help too much ether, IMHO because the game is not a PS3 only title and PS3 sales are bound to be lower then the 360 version.

The MGS3 one is the right way to do it.

Foxstar Sixtail

@HaigNC: They are one of the biggest retailers in Sweden... so not unusual for SCEE to give them advanced info. I'll be surprised if it's fake.

x3sphere

PS3 for the win baby!

Ghostm

@KirbyMorph: Actually, Americans earn more per capita than Brits do (and that's before the UK's crippling taxes make the figures even more lopsided). Nice try, though.

emag

@arepeegee: This web site doesn't usually fake box art.

Kyle81

750$ FTL.

Woodwater

$750 is way too much unless they're throwing in something more then just the game. There better be 4 dualshock3s in there.

Jacktherip

*webhallen.

A pretty good webstore, I bought my ps3 their :D

squex

The dollar is roughly half the Pound Sterling at the moment, so console prices are:

360 (Premium): £200 = $400
PS3 40GB: £300 = $600
Wii: £180 = $360

Of course different average wages, and taxes and other variants change that, but however you look at it, Europe is getting the middle finger stuck up at us.

And how on earth is $750 for a 40GB PS3

Krondonian

Please tell me you hit "7" by accident and you meant $450..

exkon

Woah, I just had my socks blown off.

Ahsayuni

Still too expensive.

Señor Cagon

Yeah i don't get that price that sounds expensive even for europe...

Cchrist

Wait, you're just converting the Swedish currency (I think SEK) to US-dollars. In that system, the PS3 40GB costs near $600 in the UK.

Candlejack

Well those rip-offs at retail... Actually they aren't that bad. Prices are accordingly to what you get as a salary. Since they are higher in the EU than let's say in the US or in Japan, our consoles and games also cost more. Maybe they are a bit overpriced, but not in the $750-way.

amadeus3000

Not that it isn't a bad idea (if it had a lower price point), but that box looks pretty fake to me.

Seanchaen

@The Whaleman: Damn, you beat me to it ^^

Seriously though. Need to get some sort of import going soon. Those darned prices...!

Aglet

@greeble: It looks bad to US people because you judge based on your money. Take England, the pound is worth double or more the US dollar. That's more inflation that any kind of strong economy at work and, as such, things cost almost double the US price because of it. They do get ripped off, despite this, but it's all relative too. You look at it and think he can only buy half as many thigns if it costs twice as much, but he makes twice as much as you for the same jobs, roughly. I think minimum wage in England is like 6 pounds or something, which is $12-15 US. Minimum wage where I live is about $8 CAD. If minimum wage makes that, that $20 an hour job is probably $35-40 and hour in England.

So, ya, they make a shitload more, but things cost a shitload more as well. Things might be worse in other parts of Europe, but inflation is the biggest part of the cost.

KirbyMorph

Well, the $755 is really $600 + sales tax if you want to have a better price to compare with the US prices. It's actually the MSRP for a normal 40GB bundle, but Webhallen is usually a tad cheaper than MSRPs.

Roughly this would translate to a price of €449 in the rest of Europe and $449 in the US, since the world seems to think that the dollar and Euro still are equal... however, Sony overcharges Scandinavia compared to the rest of Europe, so it would probably be €399 in the rest of Europe, since the 4499SEK listed is the standard SKU price. If that's the case it would be an awesome package, since the GT5 prologue pack cost the same and only features half a game.

The Whaleman

I think we'd rather have the MGS4 bundle. Oh and dualshock 3. kthxbai

Zsinj

What kind of GTAIV Special Edition goodies could be worth the additional $350?

dan

"..for roughly $750.."

Um, no thanks.

TOWER_JUNKIE

$750? Yikes.

DaPress

$399 GTA4 PS3 ftw.

globones

Oh, my tip! :)

illojal

Looks pretty fake to be honest.

If someone were to fake a budle it would look EXACTLY like that.

HaigNC

Now that will sell like honey coated hot cakes. Man o man, with this and the MGS4 bundle the gamers are making out like bandits! SWEET!!!!

Blah-Blah-Blah

If I were to hazard a guess, it would be that they will sell the game and the system together. But not a real boxed bundle. The box art isn't that convincing in my opinion.

arepeegee

Man do you Europeans get ripped off at retail. The weak American dollar isn't looking so bad right now.

greeble

Ahh. Sweden. That explains it. At first, I thought it was US.

Still, $750. Bleck.

Polywhirl

That's pretty cool , wonder what the PS3 would look like if it has any special decals on it.

Kingdom Oblivion

You morons,its 750 bucks in a dif currency,fuckin READ.Especially funny being that you came here to READ the gaming news

SlowDeath420

Here is the image in large size, without the Webhallen logo (from NeoGAF): [s5.largeimagehost.com]

Not sure where it was picked up, but I'm pretty sure we can say that this bundle is the real deal.

keyrat

@TheHun: yes about the same... atleast pretty large.

Elrinth

smart move.

Sullyville

wtf $750?! Is it a joke?

TFGBlog.com

@SnakeCL: Correct. A 40 GB PS3 is about $700 in Sweden.

NO MORE LAZER!

How big is GTA in Europe compared to North America? Is it about the same in popularity?

TheHun

@s]-[iO_keN:

Thank you for providing some sanity here.

Its essentially the cost that a 40gig goes for regularly in europe.

If the bundle came to the US, it would cost... $399.

The people making a big stink about the price... probably wouldn't have bought a PS3 in the first place, or don't understand what the conversion for a regular PS3 is in another country.

SnakeCL

Wow... the MGS4 bundle deal is looking better and better. 0_o

YUYU

I guess us Americans and low dollar are actually kinda lucky with our $399 PS3s.

A bundle would be an awesome way to move systems. Would be smart if Sony did the same in April for GTA4, but it might undermine the MGS bundle.

Also, I think an announcement would have been made sooner if such a thing was slated for the states anyway.

sascha23

Looks awesome :o

It's Webhallen though, double L. They're probably the best retailer of games in Sweden, in my very personal opinion.

NO MORE LAZER!

@bangbangblah:

Swede here.

[www.webhallen.com] Game
+
[www.webhallen.com] Consle

579sek + 2599sek = 3178sek = 529.7$

In a retail store like EB games or Game i think it will be about 699sek + 2999sek = 3698sek = 616.3 $

And then I'm counting 1$ as 6sek. Actually it's more like 5.5sek or something...

RageW

Article writer has economic learning to do.

Volomon

Currency exchange discussions should be left to bankers. Every time someone posts an article about prices abroad it completely skews the conversation to what the exchange is and who's paying more or less. I say print prices in local currency from now on so we don't have this inane discussion again.

BTW near as I can tell, the current price of an unbundled 40GB PS3 in Sweden is 4500 SEK, which is exactly the same as what this bundle is rumored to be priced.

weatherman

Once again something I said weeks ago, but the price is definitely wrong.

Volomon

Umm, why do you guys keep saying this price is too high when multiply replies on this subject have already made it clear that the price is just what it is converted to US dollars.

Basically, it is the same price that they are already paying for the 40GB system. It is not higher than what they already pay.

s]-[iO_keN

@bangbangblah: I think it would be SEK 3294 for the 20GB 360 and GTAIV. That is $550 with a straight conversion, or about 75% the price of the PS3 package.

The Whaleman

Because of the taxes and other crap we still count 1$ as circa 10SEK in the gaming market. Which makes it tough to be student and a gamer here...

When I looked for that bundle i saw this: [www.webhallen.com] :O

That's about 250$!!! *falls down crying*

RageW

That image looks a bit computer generated to me. Sony wouldn't release this bundle and then turn around and release the MGS4 bundle in June...doesn't make sense.

turbofreak

@LittleBigPlaneteer: Because DualShock 3 doesn't exist in Europe. It's currently not even acknowledge to exist by Sony in Europe... so before they could include it in a package, they would have to announce it.

The Whaleman

im totally drooling but that price is Outrageouse.

Go Team Venture

its still gonna be less of a game on taht console, no matter how you bundle it... no episodic content? meh.

uppitycracker

$750 won't buy downloadable content.

NeoStarr

@TheHun: Definitely. Some people are crazy for it. But some don't dig it. I'd say it's close, the overall excitement in the USA is probably a bit more intense and dramatic.

I mean, AFAIK, we don't get big ass advertisement on our walls painted.

Candlejack

Though a GTA bundle would make sense, I'm going to have to say this is fake. The box mentions SIXAXIS on the side. Wouldn't Sony include the DualShock 3 in any future bundle?

Plus, since the game is coming later this month, isn't it a bit too late for this? Shouldn't we have known about such a bundle a while ago if it were true? Perhaps it's coming to Europe, but sadly not the US

LittleBigPlaneteer

*facepalm* @ the price 'prediction' by Kotaku.

Otherwise, fantastic job to Sony for this.

luxusa

@SlowDeath420: He used the $ sign thats American money. Which is why everyones confused that he couldn't convert it correctly.

Volomon

o second that, that ps3 better be a fancy ass console like the 360 gta4 500 limited editions

genebeef

@Volomon:
Rumble isnt out in Europe, neither are trophies, PSN is a joke compared to LIVE (which I've already payed for so I might as well use it) but split-screen? The PS3 has splitscreen on GTA4 and the 360 dont? Strange..
Ah well, I'll still take the DLC over splitscreen

KEELr

@genebeef: Thats not worth responding intelligently to.

Volomon

Hey you know maybe this guy isn't super dumb maybe he thinks you can only Import it and thats why he went with the $750. Kinda dumb thinking it would only be in one place but still a little less.

Volomon

@Volomon: and no dlc

lol 750$ is a bit much, especially if sony really wants to sell a system with no backwards compatibility and a gta4 with no dlc. here comes the flaming toliet paper 8D

genebeef

@LittleBigPlaneteer: Yeah, tell me about it. I'm still holding out for a DS3 bundle before I buy my PS3. Also, it's equivalent of the $399 console even, not the $499 ;)

And just for some perspective on it all, as a Swedish paid PhD Student, I get enough pay to buy 3 of these in one month with money to spare for games... if it wasn't for the annoying fact that I would need most of that money for rent and food and other running expenses. It's about the same salary as a grocery store cashier gets over here.

The Whaleman

@KEELr: Ohya and we don't pay for any of it.

Volomon

@KEELr: PS3 Has rumble, trophies, PSN, and split-screen...

Volomon

That box is fake as all hell.

fullmetal7

I live 3 miles away from the Swedish boarder, and I was there last week and pre-ordered my copy of GTA4.. for the Xbox 360!
Gotta play GTA with rumble, achievements, LIVE and excusive DLC

KEELr

@The Whaleman:

Ah, well that sucks

LittleBigPlaneteer

Kotaku really botched this one :(

PEOPLE THE PRICE IS NOT 750US. THIS IS A CONVERTED CURRENCY PRICE FROM THE SWEDISH KRONA. THIS IS EQUIVALENT TO THE 499 CONSOLE HERE.

LittleBigPlaneteer

They need to do that bundle here in America. Now that would be the ultra h-bomb!

Blah-Blah-Blah

@Volomon: i see, volomon has a phd in smartass here. maybe from the university of sony. keep talkin, kid.

genebeef

In before the '$750 is expensive' comments!... oh... uh... ok, maybe not...

Seriously, just one thing about average wage (I saw people throwing statistics around) - are those mean or median wages? Median is more useful; including the US mega-rich throws it off kilter (and to be honest it doesn't much matter whether you earn $1 million per year or $20 million - either way you can afford a PS3).

As for this bundle, sounds like a no-brainer to me. Microsoft - with actual ammunition in the form of those exclusive downloadable episodes, and only a slight snag in the fact that you'll have to pay through the nose for them - are going to do their best to give the impression that their console is the one to buy for GTA4, so Sony had damn well better make an effort to counter that impression. (Which they will do, successfully, in Europe. Good luck in the US though.)

quen

@genebeef: What you gonna do kid. Internet whip me?

Volomon

@Kingdom Oblivion:

If the box is real, then no, it won't have any special decals. You can see a picture of the PS3 on the front left of the box, its sideways. And it's the same old black PS3.

pot

sony: we milk it any way that we can!

henri1kk

Wow Sony way to go.

I applaud you on your efforts. First the mgs4 box, now the gta4 one.

/clap

ManjiKengo

Why would you even give the price in US dollars Mark? Is it to just wind up your readers? Poor show.

Anyway, hopefully Microsoft have a packed in bundle up their sleeve else they may be in a bit of trouble. This isn't the best way to retrieve those $50 million they forked out for the DLC.

1981suede

@PaulHunter:

Perhaps Rockstar didn't give them the go ahead? I don't think it's purely Sony's decision. The fact that Microsoft has exclusive DLC, is a means of pushing more consoles. Having a GTA 4 Bundle would increase sales, and thus may not be fair in Rockstar's eyes.

LittleBigPlaneteer

@henri1kk:

Yes, because Microsoft hasn't milked Halo and won't be milking Gears of War 2 this fall

LittleBigPlaneteer

Sony should have released that bundle here in North America. While MGS4 will undoubtedly be an amazing game, I would imagine that GTA4 would push more consoles. I guess Sony figures they sell enough consoles even without a bundle.

PaulHunter

@LittleBigPlaneteer: Thanks for the tip.

As enticing as it sounds (being a die-hard GTA fan myself), it's not like we'll be getting the DLC on it. Must just be a way for Sony to make up for the lack of it.

Frank

So, that's $400 for the console, $350 for GTAIV? Yeah, great deal, sign me up ... thbbbbbpt.

Strangelove

This is a hideous box that Sony would never, ever in a million years sell, it's obviously a mock-up for marketing purposes, and quite probably a fake.

And if it turns out to be real, wtf, everyone but Japan are criminal wannabes while the Japanese get to be the cool ninja-assassin-rambo wannabes? Weak.

cybereal

This rumor has been going on for a while. I'm guessing it's going to happen.

scarlet

here in Holland I could buy a 40GB PS3 for just €389,- Comparing that to the other consoles. it's pretty cheap; Wii: €249,- and 360premium: €269,-.

checked the source, it's 4499 Swedish Krona (or whatever) and that translates to €480 ([www.x-rates.com])
seeing as most stores still sell the PS3 for €399 or more, you pay €80 for GTAIV and perhaps something extra (boxart ;)

I'm still not going to buy a PS3 though, I'm going to be patient and wait for the PC version

zyberteq

well, to be honest, i can't think of many better games to bundle.

so at least they are choosing good games for their bundles.

it wasn't always such good games making console bundles in the past.

joelface

The extra $350 is for the French, German and Spanish translations. Stupid English-refusing countries, dragging everyone else down... *grumble*

Wandel

omg, you americans... in sweden we pay 100$ for a game, thats almost 650 swedish kronor, and thats a normal console game price, a new wii here in sweden cost about 420$ i got mine 60gb ps3 for 840$ when i bout it last summer, and i got it really cheap.

Maxiie91

The bundle is starting to surface in other (swedish) retail stores as well now:

[www.game.se]

The Whaleman

Guys! They av now announce that the 10 first in the queue to webhallen will get:

PS3 GTA IV BUNDLE PACK FOR 1SEK!

THE 11-60 AFTER WILL GET GTA IV FOR PS3 FOR 1SEK!

same thing goes in the XBOX360 queue! But in this case the Xbox 360 Elite GTA4 bundle.

INSANE I SAY!

squex

@Volomon: Alot of currency is in dollars.

fusilero