The game console war is hotting up, after Microsoft slashed AU$250 off the price of the Xbox to AU$399, and Nintendo today announced the Gamecube would launch at AU$329 rather than the original AU$399.
Sony Computer Entertainment Australia declined to comment, but said the managing director of the company's Australian arm will be talking to head office tonight in order to clarify the situation.
If Sony does cut prices in Europe, there is still some question whether that will be duplicated in Australia.
-Australia has a tendency to follow Europe, mostly because of the PAL format, whereas America uses NTSC," Phil Burnham, research manager with IT channel research firm Inform told ZDNet Australia. -But you have to remember the PS2 is cheaper here than anywhere else in the world." The PS2 was launched at AU$749 but now retails for AU$499.
However, the PS2 still remains AU$100 more than Xbox, while in the UK the prices are the same at 199 pounds sterling.
According to Burnham, the Xbox hasn't had much effect on the sales of PS2, which he describes as "very strong".
Why would they cut the PS2's price now, surely they would wait and see if the sales slow and then think about cutting it. I've only seen one demo Xbox but it didn't impress me as being anywhere near equal to the PS2, hopefully the Gamecube will be a better competitor, but ultimately, it's the games that make the PS2 the best choice.