Konami: Gun Metal PlayStation 3 Not 'Just a Paint Job'
After the almost universally negative reaction to Konami's limited edition Gun Metal Gray PlayStation 3/Metal Gear Solid 4 bundle, the company feels obligated to explain the bundle's inexplicably high $600 price tag.
"Some seem to think that the Gun Metal Gray is just a "paint job", which it is not," wrote Konami's community relations operatives in a recent public forum post.
"It is a different material, which has more of a "matte" finish and feel as opposed to the standard "glossy" one. Also, the bundle comes with a
DualShock3 controller which also is Gun Metal Gray like the console, as
opposed to the standard controller, and is of course limited like the
bundle is."
The post also reveals that the bundle (of which only 10,000 units will be crafted) includes a special limited edition version of Metal Gear Solid 4 containing the game as well as an "extra disc of documentaries, the soundtrack, etc."
I suppose Konami's explanation sheds light on the thought process they put into the bundle, but I still can't see the value in spending $600 on a drab 40GB PlayStation 3 and a bunch of extras that I could buy separately for less.
So much less in fact, that I could buy copies of the excellent Uncharted and Rachet And Clank Future: Tools of Destruction with the difference and still have enough cash left over to go for a nice lunch.
Hyper devoted Metal Gear fans might see the bundle as a great investment, but I just don't think Konami will ever be able to justify the price to me.
MGS4 Limited Edition PS3 Bundle Clarifications [Konami Forums]
See Also:
Count me as that. A Metal Gear Fan, I ordered one, but basically it's to have something to watch Blu-rays on. BC doesn't concern me, as my 60-gig works fine. I just don't want to overtax it with movie-watching, and the lower power consumption and quieter running make the 40-gig OK by me. But yeah — even I agree. It's overpriced.
If Nintendo Wii came out with a platinum edition console with quad glaciers I'd buy it and put that biz on dubs.
Now if it was chrome with a spinner...I'd definately pay extra.
They've basically said, "We spent an extra $3 per case/controller spraying a matte finish on to what is normally an attractive shiny case. Therefore, it will cost you an additional $140."
The bonus soundtrack and extras (read "making of" and blah concept artwork) DVD is nice, but not $140 nice.
The only way they could justify this is if it had PS2 compatibility, the hard drive was 120GB, and Kojima admitted that playing most of MGS2 as pansy-pants Raiden was his own personal homoerotic fantasy.
So, it's not just a paint job, it's a MATTE paint job!
One thing I'm curious about: are the MGS PS3's individually numbered? Not that I'm gonna get one (not a fan of the series), but such details can be a huge deal to the collectors they're targeting, plus with the low print run, there's no excuse for them not to do it.
Gun Metal Gray has two different meanings: In Japanese, it translates to "Americans will buy anything." In English -- "A sucker and his rent money are soon parted."
The ESRB has proposed a new ratings system to prevent Sony from defrauding over-moneyed 15 year-olds. Its first rating will go on the box of the Gun Metal Gray PS3 and Metal Gear Solid 4 packaging:
"WARNING: 10% substance, 90% hype."
Holla!
yeah!!! the documentaries make it worth every penny.
Konami never explained why the exact same bundle is $100 cheaper in Japan.
i dont understand whats the BIG deal.
the xbox 360 halo edition, was just a paint job and was more expensive too.
LIMITED COLLECTOR SPECIAL EDITIONS are overpriced... DAHHH
tell me something new
Why does Konami need to justify the price to you when you're not the target market for this? So if Mattel releases -->LIMITED EDITION<-- Barbie for higher price, they have to justify the price to people who's not going to buy it in the first place? What is it with this ghetto Walmart mentality in gaming populace?
agree w/Kenny - if you think it's overpriced, don't buy it. It's not like they're saying "this is the only version of the console that you can play the game on." It's like the gamer's take on a jealous ex's behavior - "If I don't like it, no one gets to like it!"
-1 for lame
I can see where Earnest is coming from.
For instance, if I rented Halo 3 instead of buying it, I would save $50 dollars, which I could then use to buy The Orange Box which has 6 excellent games in it, as well 60 great NES games from this one auction on ebay. That's 67 games rather than just one.
Hyper devoted Halo fans might see the game as a great investment, but I just don't think Bungie will ever be able to justify the price to me.
Wow an entire article devouted to trashing something that some people may want to own. I am amazed at Wired Blog writer's more and more every day. Maybe you could try to focus on real news instead of interposing your bullshit opinons no one gives two shakes of a mule's ass about. I am sure there are 10,000 people on this planet who love MSG so much that they won't hesitate to buy a limited edition collecter's item. Get a life Ernie or at least some talent.
Cool looking, though definately not worth the extra $. Maybe to a crazy MGS fan, but normal people will pass this up. But, then again, that is who Sony made this for... the crazy MSG fan. http://www.custompcmax.com
I thought about getting one, until I saw it was only a 40GB. Even though I already have a 60GB, I won't pay that much for half the system I already own (20GB less and no BC).
The Gunmetal finish isn't just a re-spray, it a different material entirely, but it's still not worth it.
Considering that the PS3's are selling at a loss already, its annoying when people say its overpriced. Yah, its so overpriced that the company who makes them loses $$$ on every unit sold. I'm not really aware of any other company right now that sells its products at a loss. I'm sure my cell phone provider doesn't take a loss on me every month, I'm sure Ford doesn't take a loss on every vehicle sold, I'm sure Olympus makes profit on every camera sold. So stop bitching about the price. This unit sells for 600$ right now, but in 3 years will be selling for 1000$. If any of you know anything about collecting you'll buy this bundle simply to turn a buck in a few years. That limited edition zelda ds bundle was released like 7 months ago, and is already selling for 100$ more than the original price.
Zero justification. The hyping of the "extra disc of documentaries" is nothing more than you can already get in the LE game from Gamestop. Think about this: You can buy the regular bundle pack at $500, additionally buy the LE game for $85 and STILL end up spending less than the LE Bundle pack by $15, AND get twice the memory and backwards compatibility to play the entire MGS series. I actually love the series that I enjoy playing the old games. Gunmetal buyers will only be able to play MGS1 on their consoles.
Frankly, I believe the price point (and the temporary $500 "insurance fee") was to drive off those that wanted to buy simply to scalp. Unfortunately, it didn't-- but the advantage was they had plenty of the systems to go around that even the scalpers got shafted. Now over a week into it's pre-sell, it's STILL available online as of June 3.
We have had rumble since launch
web sites:
"Hyper devoted Metal Gear fans might see the bundle as a great investment"
What a nice way to say fanatical fanboy.