PS3 News: Sony Won't Attach Premium Charge To 3D Games - PS3 News

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Sony Won't Attach Premium Charge To 3D Games

The cost of entering into the world of 3D from the comfort of your living room is high enough already. No need to add insult to injury, right?

Right around the time we started to receive early details concerning 3D games, EA said we should prepare ourselves for "premium price tags." However, according to what SCEE boss Andrew House told GamesIndustry.biz in a recent interview, Sony hasn't considered jacking the prices on 3D games, and they don't intend to, either. Why? Well, it's simple, really- the cost of 3D development isn't much higher than the regular cost of producing a game. Said House:

"This isn't a really significant investment and probably plays really good dividends in terms of return on investment. Somebody asked how much of a premium are we going to charge on 3D games, and I said 'we haven't considered charging for one.' Because it's not significant enough an investment to really demand that.

I'm a great believer in the brand loyalty and brand differentiation you get out of it more than pays for the investment that goes up front."

That last bit is bound to satisfy fans of the company and it's good to hear that our 3D experiences won't require more cash on the software side of things. Sure, that new 3D-enabled HDTV will cost a pretty penny but if you look closely, those TVs don't really cost any more than regular HDTVs. It's almost as if the addition of that technology costs next to nothing for both game makers and TV manufacturers. The only question remaining is, "how soon will gamers adopt this new technology?"

Tags: sony, 3d gaming, 3d prices, ps3 3d

8/23/2010 10:50:13 AM Ben Dutka

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Comments (31 posts)

Highlander
Monday, August 23, 2010 @ 11:11:58 AM
Reply

So, 3D enablement is simply another feature on a PS3 game and is not a cause for a price premium. Nice. I never thought there would be a premium, but I know that there have been lot's of scare stories suggesting that a premium would be the norm. I've always felt that most games are modeled in 3D now anyway. Without wanting to diminish the work involved, the majority of the changes required are in the rendering engine allowing it to render from two points of view instead of one. But the physics and 3D model don't change at all.

Either way, it's great to have a confirmation.

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G1283
Monday, August 23, 2010 @ 11:16:24 AM
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once i finish my bat and hopefully find a job. getting a 3d tv will be second of my lil projects plans. first build another comp yay

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dante_zero
Monday, August 23, 2010 @ 11:35:29 AM
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if i could afford one i'd snap a 3d bravia up right away and the funky glasses. after having played Killzone 3, GT5, motorstorm apocalypse in 3D they looked much better than their standard HD counterparts. Personally after having played in 3D i actually prefer it slighty because it does add something to games and isnt just a gimmick. Surely we can imagine how say Uncharted 3 may look in standard HD but then throw 3D into the equation and Well WOW. GOTY no, game of the decade yes!!!. lol

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NeoHumpty
Monday, August 23, 2010 @ 12:00:33 PM
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Tax season, baby. Well, I'm hearing rumors of glasses free versions, so I'll still be researching. I'll hold off for the right tech if it's coming soon.

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Hezzron
Monday, August 23, 2010 @ 2:06:18 PM

Same here. I think what we're seeing now is just the beginning of better things to come.

Also, most people have just adopted the thin HDTVs in the past few years. Families don't consider TVs as disposable items that get switched out every 2-3 years.

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ChronowerX_GT
Monday, August 23, 2010 @ 12:06:35 PM
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I'm sure glad they aren't charging a premium. It would be unfair for the vast majority of people with a 2d TV to have to pay for features they can't possibly ever use.

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JackC8
Monday, August 23, 2010 @ 12:51:15 PM

That's exactly what I was thinking. The market's way too competitive to think about increasing the price of some games in order to include a feature that most people can't even use.

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Amazingskillz
Monday, August 23, 2010 @ 1:30:35 PM
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Lets hope it stays that way.

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Jawknee
Monday, August 23, 2010 @ 1:58:02 PM
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Maybe EA plans to charge extra for any 3D effort they make. Just means i won't pay for it when it comes to their games. To be honest, I'm really only interested in 3D games Sony makes. They know the tech, they demand quality and they won't charge extra for an optional feature like some other greedy 3rd party developers probably plan to.

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Hezzron
Monday, August 23, 2010 @ 2:14:06 PM

Spoken like a true company man.

When you take a dump, do your logs have "Sony" etched on the side of them?

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Jawknee
Monday, August 23, 2010 @ 2:16:06 PM

LOL...yes because i must be getting paid to support my favorite gaming company.

You got me!!!

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Alienange
Monday, August 23, 2010 @ 7:07:11 PM

I lol'd a bit there.

Oh, and heads up, Sony doesn't ALWAYS demand quality. Have you seen MAG? Yowch!

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main_event05
Monday, August 23, 2010 @ 8:27:15 PM

No, I haven't seen MAG. What's wrong with it?

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Jawknee
Monday, August 23, 2010 @ 9:41:19 PM

The graphics aren't what you expect from a PS3 exclusives but with the game as big as it is, some sacrifices needed to be made.

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vicious54
Monday, August 23, 2010 @ 2:26:15 PM
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Glad to hear they haven't consider charging more for 3D, I want to get a 3D set now but want to see the price come down some.

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RobiinzZ
Monday, August 23, 2010 @ 2:58:54 PM
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Well considering im only 16, and proberly wont have a full time job untill im in my 20's i wont be playing in 3D for a long time :(.

unless they suddenly drop to £300, i dont have a hope in hell of getting one.

But still, i support it, and only hope it gets better.

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BikerSaint
Monday, August 23, 2010 @ 3:21:31 PM
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This is certainly good to hear.

At least my wallet won't be able to bi*** & moan at me about that too now.

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Mr_Nice_Guy
Monday, August 23, 2010 @ 3:27:17 PM
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Well that's good news. But I didn't really fear that would happen so it doesn't matter to me. You can't attach a premium price to something that your trying to get people to adopt. 3D technology in the living room is still very new, so attaching extra costs to games that support 3D would probably kill it in it's tracks.

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just2skillf00l
Monday, August 23, 2010 @ 3:52:09 PM
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I agree with your logic Mr_Nice_Guy. Jacking up the prices further now would only serve to alienate potential investors. 3D hasn't infiltrated enough homes for Sony to even think about increasing 3D game prices. I'm glad they're taking the sensible approach.

Well seeing as they are the one's responsible for Bluray and its domination of HD-DVD, it would've been absurd to witness any other outcome.

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maxpontiac
Monday, August 23, 2010 @ 4:17:48 PM
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Translation:

If we were Microsoft, there would be a charge. Thank you for choosing Playstation as your home entertainment leader.

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THEVERDIN
Monday, August 23, 2010 @ 5:12:27 PM
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Sony says that ,but I bet other companies are looking to do something different. Any way to squeeze a buck is what I always see.



The glass is 1/2 empty!!!!!

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Alienange
Monday, August 23, 2010 @ 7:10:01 PM
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Talk about a tough line to swallow. The company that is absolutely notorious for over pricing their hardware "haven't considered" a premium on 3D games? Yeah, sure. Goooood one.

More like they realize no one wants this tech and to charge even more would simply end it's life earlier.

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Mr_Nice_Guy
Monday, August 23, 2010 @ 7:20:54 PM

Please speak for yourself. I actually enjoy the tech very much and will be glad that more and more 3D games are being released. So please, stop trying to speak for all gamers and worry about your own gaming setup. Thanks.

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BikerSaint
Monday, August 23, 2010 @ 7:18:19 PM
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If you'll notice, almost all high-end "cream of the crop" company's charge more for their products.

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just2skillf00l
Monday, August 23, 2010 @ 7:32:19 PM
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Well to anyone that said Microsoft would've done this or done that given they WERE in control of 3D tech, I find it quite impossible for the situation to have panned out that way.

Anyone that has even a smidgen of business sense wouldn't overcharge prices for new experimental tech. It's just absurd! Given the financial situation people are in and factoring in the already excited prices of 3D tech. Who in their right minds would accelerate prices further for products involving the new tech? It's beyond ridiculous. Not to mention that the creators of the tech would obviously look to video games for a large portion of their returns, if anything it would be advisable to lower prices of software involving the tech.

That's why games like Sorcery, the boxing game, and the bunch of other Move titles (to be released in September) are being released for a cheaper amount than the average typical $60 price-point game. This is to emerge the uncertain yet fickle customers into the tech to get a feel for it. If the company responsible for the tech jacked up the prices, more people would be unable to involve themselves with the tech. Come on guys! Such a ridiculous argument!

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BikerSaint
Monday, August 23, 2010 @ 7:45:19 PM
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Before you buy, here's a good helpful site that explains all about 3D, complete with guides, history of 3D, & much more....

http://www.mtbs3d.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11389&Itemid=57

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dante_zero
Monday, August 23, 2010 @ 8:03:33 PM
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who said MAG wasent quality? GTFO lol. but seriously MAG is a good exclusive. It's started abit rough round the edges but is getting better every week and is definately developing into a AAA title. those that argue different try putting in 60hrs min at the least and see what you think then. tut tut always one thats gotta bash MAG. lol
i wonder if MAG will get 3D. i know they are implementing Move into the game.

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dirdiggler
Monday, August 23, 2010 @ 8:56:18 PM
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When is the ps3 going to support 3d bluray? Cause when i bought my sony 3dtv i got 3 free 3d bluray movies. But the problem is i can't watch them yet cause the ps3 don't play 3d movies, any ideas on when this will be coming?

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___________
Tuesday, August 24, 2010 @ 3:47:51 AM

chrissy by the looks of it.

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___________
Tuesday, August 24, 2010 @ 3:47:25 AM
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sony are stupid, but i doubt there that stupid!
the ps3 is what is pushing there TV sales now, so increase the cost of 3D games and they can kiss those TV sales goodbye!
and lord knows they need every help they can get, samsung and panasonic, hell even sharp are kicking sonys a$$ ATM!
wow, when your being beaten by sharp thats when you know your really in trouble!

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dante_zero
Tuesday, August 24, 2010 @ 7:42:06 AM
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there will be a firmware update in September to allow the ps3 to play blu ray 3D movies or so i'm lead to believe via various news sources and press quotes from Sony.

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