I have to admit, this comes as a big surprise to me. With the mainstream success of Kinect, I had assumed that the 360 had been outselling the PS3 this year, but it turns out I was wrong. According to official NPD Group Australia data from retailers, the PS3 has become the highest selling console so far in 2011.
Game prices — in Australia it’s the ultimate taboo subject, but we managed to get hold of Ed Fong, Managing Director of Ubisoft and Paul Yardley, Managing Director of GAME, to talk game prices in Australia. Can we go lower? And how can the local industry compete with the rapid growth of online shopping?
We’re currently attending the first Game-Tech conference, a conference geared toward discussing the issues that affect the Australian Games Industry specifically. In a cross discussion, Sony’s Michael Ephraim and Managing Director of Ubisoft Ed Fong were both asked about the challenges facing the Australian Games Industry today. The answer? Retail and the price of games specifically.
Over 40 guest speakers, including Brendan O’Connor and Michael Ephraim from Sony have been confirmed to speak at Gametech, Australia’s first major business forum for the video games and interactive entertainment industry, which takes place at Luna Park on the 21st and 22nd of June.
For years, the industry has been bemoaning the fact that too many games are squeezed into the end of year holiday period. This year, however, it seems things are changing. StarCraft II, Splinter Cell: Conviction and BioShock 2 and others have all been pushed back. If anything, we’re worried there aren’t enough games coming this Christmas.
Despite constant rumours of an imminent PS3 price drop, Sony says the price isn’t the issue. The PS3 is holding its own against the competition. It’s also juicy.
