JAPAN: Sony announces it will start the global rollout of its new PlayStation Vita handheld games device on December 17 in Japan without cutting prices, despite discounts by rival Nintendo

Record ID: 451658

  • Title: JAPAN: Sony announces it will start the global rollout of its new PlayStation Vita handheld games device on December 17 in Japan without cutting prices, despite discounts by rival Nintendo
  • Date: 15th September 2011
  • Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (SEPTEMBER 14, 2011) (REUTERS) PRESIDENT OF SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT JAPAN HIROSHI KAWANO WALKING INTO NEWS CONFERENCE PLAYSTATION VITA LOGO DEMO PICTURES OF PLAYSTATION VITA BEING PLAYED ON SCREEN KAWANO PREPARING FOR DEMONSTRATION KAWANO HOLDING PLAYSTATION VITA PLAYSTATION VITA BEING SHOWN (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) PRESIDENT OF SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT JAPAN HIROSHI KAWANO SAYING "We will kick off selling PlayStation Vita in Japan on Saturday, December 17." KAWANO SPEAKING ON STAGE (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) PRESIDENT OF SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT JAPAN HIROSHI KAWANO SAYING "We will not change the price from our earlier announcement as we've set a strategic price on a product that is full of fascinating features. I believe we've received very positive feedback from our customers regarding the set price since it was announced." JOURNALISTS LISTENING TO KAWANO MORE OF KAWANO SPEAKING ON STAGE PEOPLE TAKING PHOTO OF THE PRESENTATION KAWANO BOWING AND WALKING OFF VARIOUS OF KAWANO AND INDUSTRY OFFICIAL HOLDING PLAYSTATION VITAS FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS
  • Embargoed: 30th September 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Japan, Japan
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: Entertainment,Industry
  • Reuters ID: LVA2GF54PAC3MG1IGMQO0OCK742L
  • Story Text: Sony Corp said on Wednesday (September 14) it will launch its new PlayStation Vita handheld games device on December 17 in Japan, kicking off a global rollout, and insisted it will not reduce the price in the face of discounting by rival Nintendo.
    "We will kick off selling PlayStation Vita in Japan on Saturday, December 17," Hiroshi Kawano, president of Sony Computer Entertainment Japan, announced as he presented the domestic launch plans a day ahead of the annual Tokyo Game Show.
    Sony has been criticised for setting the PS Vita's price too high for the mass market but some analysts say the gadget will likely appeal chiefly to hardcore gamers, who are generally willing to spend more.
    Kawano said the company was confident that the price is right.
    "We will not change the price from our earlier announcement as we've set a strategic price on a product that is full of fascinating features. I believe we've received very positive feedback from our customers regarding the set price since it was announced," he said.
    Sony said in August it saw no need to reduce the price of the PS Vita from the announced figure of 24,980 yen ($325) for a Wi-fi only model and 29,980 yen ($390) for a 3G plus Wi-fi version.
    But the company last month cut the price of its PlayStation 3 gaming console by one-fifth to regain lost ground against rival Microsoft, which makes the Xbox.
    Rival Nintendo slashed prices for its own portable games device by up to 40 percent to 15,000 yen ($195 USD) last month after sales sagged, and unveiled a raft of new software on Tuesday (September 13) in a bid to revive interest.
    But investors say smartphones and tablets have taken a big bite out of demand for dedicated portable games devices by providing cheaper software and multiple functions.
    The PS Vita, first unveiled in Tokyo in January, is expected to go on sale in the United States and Europe in early 2012, but exact dates have yet to be revealed.
    Sony said it will launch 26 software titles along with the PS Vita on December 17 and Japan's biggest mobile carrier, NTT Docomo will provide prepaid 3G plans for PS Vita users.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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